A Prayer for 2011

From the wonderful little book of prayer entitled The Valley of Vision:

Thou God of All Grace,

Thou hast given me a Savior,
produce in me a faith to live by him,
to make him all my desire,
all my hope
all my glory.

May I enter him as my refuge,
build on him as my foundation,
walk in him as my guide,
conform to him as my example,
receive his instructions as my prophet,
rely on his intercession as my high priest,
obey him as my king.

May I never be ashamed of him or his words,
but joyfully bear his reproach,
never displease him by unholy or imprudent conduct,
never count it a glory if I take it patiently
when buffeted for a fault,
never make the multitude my model,
never delay when thy Word invites me to advance.

May thy dear Son preserve me from this present evil world,
so that its smiles never allure,
nor its frowns terrify,
nor its vices defile,
nor its errors delude me.

May I feel that I am a stranger and a pilgrim on earth,
declaring plainly that I seek a country,
my title to it becoming daily more clear,
my meetness for it more perfect,
my foretastes of it more abundant;
and whatsoever I do may it be done
in the Savior's name.

May it be so. Amen.