Another Year Is Dawning

“The Spirit of  the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes.” –Isaiah 61:1-3 (NEV).

Oh, that the new year about to dawn, 2014, would be “the year of the Lord’s favor!”  In today’s focal passage from Isaiah 61, the words seem to be as from the Messiah Himself.  And, indeed, Luke records that Christ read from the scroll of Scriptures at the synagogue in Nazareth when He began His public ministry this passage from Isaiah 61.  After Jesus read to them, he said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).

May I suggest that we read prayerfully Psalm 85 and make it our New Year’s prayer.  It is a prayer that God will show His mercy to the nation of Israel.  We can and should pray the words of Psalm 85 for America.  Listen to one of the poignant pleas:

“Will you not revive us again,

That your people may rejoice in You?” (Ps. 85:6).

In 1874 Ms. Frances R. Havergal wrote the lyrics to “Another Year Is Dawning.”  Set to music to the tune “Aurelia” by Samuel S. Wesley, the hymn was published in 1874 in Kemble Company’s “Selection of Psalms and Hymns.”  It rapidly became a popular hymn sung in our churches on the Sunday nearest New Year’s Day.  In many ways it reechoes the prayer expressed in Psalm 85 and is very appropriate as a New Year’s hymn-prayer:

“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.”

Prayer:  Father, we do not know what the New Year may bring forth.  But we know who holds the future.  Hear the earnest prayers of a remnant of Thy people to revive Your people again that we may rejoice in You and Your providence and goodness.  As you promised us in Psalm 85:13:  “Let righteousness go before You, and make Your footsteps into our way.”  In Jesus name.  Amen. –Ethelene Dyer Jones  12.29.2013