Gratitude Day 550

Mon., Jan. 4, 2021

Matthew 23:11 – The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart.

In the 1700’s, Englishman John Wesley yearned for folks to elevate their spiritual living. He encouraged people to practice a number of spiritual disciplines to keep their hearts and minds close to God.

Annually, Wesley promoted a Covenant Service. He became aware of the practice from a Puritan. Wesley felt this service brought blessings to participants. Often held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, the Covenant Service encourages people to commit themselves to God.

It’s still early in 2021. If you are like me, you’re still finding your footing in this New Year. As I reread Wesley’s Covenant Service, I was reminded of the power in pausing and recommitting our lives to God. Today, I share a portion of this service. As you read through this Covenant Service, I pray you will make these words your words. Take this opportunity early in a new year to right yourself with God.

INVITATION:

Commit yourselves to Christ as his servants.

Give yourselves to him, that you may belong to him.

Christ has many services to be done.

Some are more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and disgraceful.

Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, other are contrary to both.

In some we may please Christ and please ourselves.

But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.

It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ.

Let us go to Christ and pray:

Let me be your servant, under your command.

I will no longer be my own.

I will give up myself to your will in all things.

PORTIONS OF THE COVENANT PRAYER:

O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, see me as I fall down before you.

Forgive my unfaithfulness I not having done your will, for you have promised mercy to me if I turn to you with my whole heart.

God requires that you shall put away all your idols.

I here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all, covenanting with you that no known sin shall be allowed in my life.

In my power, I will watch all temptation that will lead me away from you.

I acknowledge you as my Lord and God.

I take you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for my portion, and vow to give up myself, body and soul, as your servant, to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.

Jesus, I do here on bended knees accept Christ as the only new and living Way, and sincerely join myself in a covenant with him.

O mighty God … and I, through your infinite grace, have become your covenant servant. So be it. Amen.

As we walk into 2021, I pray we embody practices that will keep us close to God this year. May these sections of the Covenant Service be one of such practices.

For historical traditions that encourage us to walk closely with God, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – May these words which have encouraged Christmas for decades to walk closely with You, may we instill a little flame inside my heart this day. Encourage me to fully embrace the opportunity to get right with God today.  Amen.

For the entire Covenant Service, please go to: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/covenant-renewal-service.

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