Reflections on Another Year Is Dawning

Another year is dawning! Dear Father, let it be In working or in waiting,

Another year with Thee; Another year of progress, Another year of praise,

Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, Of faithfulness and grace, Another year of gladness,

In the shining of Thy face; Another year of leaning Upon Thy loving breast,

Another year of trusting, Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, Of witness for Thy love, Another year of training

For holier work above; Another year is dawning! Dear Father, let it be,

On earth, or else in heaven, Another year for Thee.

January has always been a time of reflection for me. As I think back over my past, I am amazed at what God has done in my life. Just like the poem “Footprints” when we look back over rough times in our lives we can see the hand of God and the places where He even carried us through.

Frances Havergal, the author of this hymn was a well known British hymn writer in the 1800’s. Not caring for the verses and sayings on greeting cards, she had a tradition of writing her own poems to send to her friends and family as greeting cards. Written near the end of 1873, she penned the words to this great hymn of our faith and sent it out as a special greeting card for the New Year of 1874.

As the old hymn states, as this year dawns, let us look forward to another year of service to God. Let us commit anew to following the Master, keeping our focus on Him and Him alone. As I reflect on over 30 years of ministry, I also look forward to future ministry until the Lord returns. As we look ahead to the year 2012, I pray that Christians everywhere will take the words of this hymn to heart as we pray: “Another year is dawning! Dear Father let it be, on earth or else in heaven another year for thee.”