Wesley's Covenant Prayer

In these days of beginning the new year, John Wesley's Covenant Prayer is receiving more than a little attention.  Wesley wrote it as a tool for church communities to renew their covenant with God at this time of the year.  It offers a far different moment of beginning than the revelers of Times Square experience as they watch the great ball drop.  It is a covenant prayer that takes us away from the outside noise to the inner quietness.  When I was growing up, it was a rather common thing for churches to have midnight worship services to usher in the new year, but such services are now more the exception than the norm.  

The renewed interest in Wesley' Covenant Prayer can create again an opportunity to use the change from December to January for spiritual transformation.  The prayer begins with the words, "I am no longer my own, but Thine. Put me to what Thou wilt.  Rank me with whom Thou wilt.  Put me to doing.  Put me to suffering.  Let me be employed for Thee or laid aside for Thee. Exalted for thee or brought low for Thee.  Let me be full.  Let me be empty.  Let me have all things.  Let me have nothing.  I freely and heartily yield all things to Thy. pleasure and disposal."   

There are still a few more words to the prayer, but these words are enough to reveal the heart of what was in Wesley's heart.  It is a prayer of total abandonment to God.  Who among us really wants to be totally abandoned to the purposes and the will of God?  Be careful in jumping on board too quickly.  Be sure to count the cost.  Be careful about praying this prayer.  God is listening.  He may take you seriously.