I offer this prayer for the new year. It was written by John Wesley. It is so simple, yet so hard. It gives me pause to reflect on what is important in life. It challenges me to lean into the hard things God calls me to.

Wesley adapted this from his Puritan background. It calls us to put God before all of our worldly wants and needs. Honestly, it scares me a bit. I don’t want to be empty or suffer, and yet if it allows others to see God through those challenges, I’m in.

John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things
To your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
You are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven.
Amen.

I continue to read this prayer for the new year over and over. I challenge you to do the same. It starts out feeling uncomfortable. Then it starts to settle into my being and becomes a challenge I want to accept.

Well, will you accept the challenge? Will you lean into this prayer for the new year? Will you allow suffering? Share your story here and breathe life and bring hope to others.