December 27, 2011

Taking Stock

Thoughts on Preparing for the New Year by David Shibley

While I was in seminary, I worked for a time as a clerk at a shoe store.  Each year we would close for a couple of days to take stock of our inventory.  It was a time to assess our real assets, to assess what we had delivered, where our resources were depleted, and what we yet had in stock.

Spiritually I do the same thing at the end of each year.  I take stock of the year that is closing, assess what needs to be replenished, and plan for the coming year.  It’s also a prayerful time of dedication, committing the past to the Lord and dedicating myself to His purposes for the coming year.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, would begin the New Year with a special covenant service and the following prayer of commitment.  This is one of those costly, life-shaping prayers.  Though we might phrase it a bit differently, I pray we are willing to make the same all-out dedication Wesley expressed so powerfully:

“Commit yourselves to Christ as His servants,” Wesley charged.  “Give yourselves to Him, that you may belong to Him.  Christ has many services to be done.  Some are more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and disgraceful.  Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, others are contrary to both.  In some we may please Christ and please ourselves.  But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.  It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ.  Let us, therefore, go to Christ, and pray:

Let me be Your servant, under Your command.  I will no longer be my own.  I will give up myself to Your will in all things.

Lord, make me what You will.  I put myself fully into Your hands: put me to doing, put me to suffering, let me be employed for You, or laid aside for You, let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and with a willing heart give it all to Your pleasure and disposal. I do here covenant with You, O Christ, to make my lot with You as it may fall. Through Your grace I promise that neither life not death shall part me from You.

I make this covenant with You, O God, without guile or reservation.  If any falsehood should be in it, guide me and help me to set it right. Mighty God, let this covenant I have made on earth be ratified in heaven, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.”

– John Wesley, circa 1780