A new year is upon us and the occasion affords the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and pray. In recent weeks I’ve been exploring the poetry of Marianne Farningham who wrote the bulk of her works in the late 1800s. Among them was this poetic prayer for a new year. Perhaps you’d like to make her prayer your own as you set out into 2022… Father, who givest usNow the new year,Grant that Thy mercyMay with it appear;Lead us the path alongWhich we must go;Choose Thou our portionOf pleasure or woe. Father, Thy blessing giveBrightening each day;Be Thou our comforter,Hear when we pray.Let us not go aloneOut in the wild;Let Thy forgiving loveShelter each child. Whate’er our work shall beLet us have light;What our hands find to doDoing with might;Faithfully serving TheeWhile it is day,So be the happy yearPassing away. Father, Thy wisdom give,Let us be strong;Keep us from grieving TheeDoing the wrong.Oh, let us hear Thy voiceCalling us near,Oh, let us see the wayClearly appear. Father, we cannot seeWhat is before,Yet we would sing our songTrusting Thee more;Burdens we have and griefsBitter to bear.But Thou wilt quiet us,Thou who dost care. So we will meet the monthsLeaning on Thee,Loving and mighty One,Still near us be;Help us to forward goStrong in Thy fear;Father, abide with usAll through the year. If it should be the last,Happy are we!We in the heavenly homeWith Thee shall be.Guide our feet thither, andBless Thou us still—Father, with us and oursDo Thine own will.