Father, let me dedicate all this year to You
In whate’er my earthly state, in whate’er I do
Not from sorrow, pain, or care, freedom dare I claim
This alone shall be my prayer: glorify Your name.
Whether anticipation or indifference, we have all looked to a new year and planned our way. But the God who stands outside of time and space holds the vapor of our life in His hand and is establishing our steps. (Pr 16:9, Jm 4:14, Acts 17:25)
Can a child presume to choose where or how to live?
Can a father’s love refuse all the best to give?
More You give me ev’ry day, than the best can claim
Help me trust You that I may, glorify Your name
We have a Father who delights to give good gifts to His children. A Father who knows our need before we ask Him. A Father who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing, chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, predestined us in love for adoption, to the praise of His glorious grace. (Matt 7:11, Matt 6:8, Eph 1:3-6)
If in mercy You prolong joys that now are mine
If on life serene and fear brighter rays may shine,
Let my glad heart, while it sings, You in all proclaim
And, whate’er the future brings, glorify Your name
Whether cast down, in turmoil, rejected or mourning, I will go to God - to God my exceeding joy. I will Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God. (Ps 43:5,2,4)
If You have for me a cross and its shadow come
Turning all my gain to loss, shrouding heart and home
Let me think how Your dear Son, to His glory came
And in deepest woe pray on: glorify Your name
Shall we accept only good from God? The One who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? The shadow of the cross compares nothing to the eternal weight of glory - future joy. All things may be counted as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. (Job 2:10, Rom 8:32, 2 For 4:17, Heb 12:2, Phil 3:8)
‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Rom 8:35,37-39
In this year, as in the last, and all the ages to come, Lord, glorify Your name. In the name of Christ, amen.
For His glory,
AB
‘Father, Here We Dedicate’ Laurence Tuttiett, 1864