A New Year's Prayer

Below is part of a devotional I received at the bottom of a forwarded e-mail.  I thought it summed things up nicely- a way to spiritually wrap up the past year and move forward.  Though the words were penned long ago, they are just as applicable today:


(James Smith, "Marvelous Mercy!" 1862)

The following is an excerpt from the diary of James Smith:

And now, Lord, I desire to confess before you the sins of this past year:

I have sinned with my tongue--and with my temper.

I have sinned in my heart--and in my life.

I have omitted duties.

I have committed sins.

My motives have often been impure.

My aims have not been sufficiently high and holy.

I have been impatient, fretful, irritable, rash, jealous, envious, discontented, and ungrateful.

O may the blood of Jesus wash out every stain!

I renounce all hope--but what centers in Jesus!

I have no refuge, no hiding-place, no strong tower, no place of safety--but Jesus.

Christ in His person,
Christ in His finished work,
Christ in His glorious intercession--
is all my hope, all my confidence, all my joy!

I am His servant--and wish to serve Him alone.
I am His subject--and wish to be ruled by Him alone.
I am His purchased property--and wish to be consecrated entirely, eternally, and altogether to Him