Living for Jesus

Pastor Gary Oser

The words of some great, old hymns can challenge us as we move into a new year. I have shared with you before the words of a hymn entitled, “Another Year is Dawning.” In this hymn, Francis Ridley Havergal writes, “Another year is dawning! Dear Father, let it be, in working or in waiting, another year with Thee.”

She closes the hymn with these words, “Another year is dawning! Dear Father, let it be, on earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee.” I trust these words express your desire that this new year will be a year lived for the Lord.

There is another great hymn that wasn’t necessarily written for New Year’s, but the words well express what should be our desire for the coming year: “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior.” The words are based on Philippians 2:5 which say, “Have this attitude (mind) in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” I want to share the words of the hymn with you and ask you to make them your prayer for the year ahead.

“May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, / By His love and power controlling all I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, / So that all may see I triumph only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father rule my life in everything. / That I may be calm to comfort the sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea; / Him exalting, self abasing - this is victory.

May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe, / Looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me as I seek the lost to win, / And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.”

If you make the words of this hymn your desire and your prayer for the coming year, it will be a year lived for the Lord and a year of growing to become more like Him.