New Commitment for the New Year

Let me start by thanking God for keeping my spirits up this winter. Maybe it has something to do with staying so busy that I cannot wallow in self-pity (and I can certainly be thankful for that) or maybe it has to do with a wonderful job and wonderful friends and a wonderful husband and a wonderful, generous friend and aunt that lives upstairs. Let's just say that I have LOTS to be thankful for! A few days ago I wasn't quite so excited about my circumstances. It could have been hormonal. It could have been high and mistaken expectations. It was not well-received by my husband.

Yesterday, we received a bulletin from our previous church, First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, and there was a covenant for reflecting on as we begin this new year. It is a covenant renewal prayer adapted from one used by John Wesley. I must admit that it was just what I needed. I thought that it might be a commitment others might need to make in 2011, so I wanted to post for you and so that I can be reminded of my commitment to God in the year ahead.

The Covenant

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will,

Place me with whom you will.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering;

Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,

Exalted for you or brought low for you.

Let me be full, let me be empty;

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things

To your pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

You are mine and I am yours. May it be so!

And may the covenant which I have made

here on earth

Be confirmed in heaven.

Amen.

I will fully admit that the first 10 lines were oh, so painful to type. I don't want to be poured out and surrender the false gods I so easily can come to embrace. My heart so often treasures earthly comfort more than heavenly joy. I draw hope from the contrast that follows "And now." It is a reminder that causes me to take my eyes off of what I may be giving up and place my eyes on the incomparable riches of Him. God is MORE than anything I could ever give up on this earth. He alone is the treasure on which I desire to build my life!