My Covenant for the New Year

I am no longer my own, but Yours, O Lord. I am weary of living only for myself. Take me over and put me on the course of doing Your will. Move me where You will. Place me among those of Your own choosing. If this means suffering, give me the strength to pass through it with joy. If it means setting aside the things of this world, help me to do so glady. If it places in submission to others, grant me the dignity of Christ. If it means personal sacrifice, fill me with the Holy spirit to be my courage and my comfort. For now, O glorious and blessed God, You are mine and I am Yours. So be it, into the coming year and until the end of my days. May this covenant I have made on earth be ratified in Heaven.
To Your greater glory, O Father. Amen.
This was in our bulletin this morning. And since I've been attending a Presbyterian church here, this was a congregational reading to be prayed in unison. Ironically enough, at the same moment that I'm typing this up, I'm listening to 'I need Thee Every Hour' sing by Jars of Clay... how I will need Him every hour if this covenant is to be met out!
Looking back on this past year, it has been absolutely amazing! I have a great network of friends who love Jesus. And they have taught me much. I have grown closer to God this year... learned a lot of lessons, some hard and some a little easier, a few of them outlined in the above prayer. My insight into life has developed nicely but there is always more growing to do, isn't there? I have travelled and met His people in Europe! And got to see some more of this world that He has made... that's always my most favorite thing!
May everyone take a moment today to reflect on the past year. May you thank God for what He has done in your life thus far and and look forward with joy to what He has yet to do in your life.
Happy New Year, everyone!