January 2020
Welcome to the ‘20’s! How will you start a new decade? There are lots of options: set career goals, focus on relationships, launch a new diet, commit to a new fitness routine, fix up the house, learn a new language…and on it goes. Here’s a wholly different option: Surrender your life to God afresh.
This was the option chosen by early Methodists. As spiritual revival broke out in 18th century England, John Wesley wanted to create something to renew a believer’s covenant with God. He adapted some aspects from other services and created a Covenant Service. It was first held on Monday, August 11, 1755 in London with 1,800 people present. Soon after, it became a regular practice of Methodism at the beginning of each year. It’s a beautiful way to set the tone and tenor for God’s gift of a new year.
The most well-known part of the Covenant Service is the prayer of surrender. Although it’s often called “Wesley’s Covenant Prayer,” Wesley gave credit to Richard Alleine when he introduced it in 1755. You can find the traditional, old English version in the United Methodist Hymnal #607 or see it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Covenant_Service#The_Prayer
I’ve found this prayer so powerful I’ve committed it to memory. That helps me pray it wherever I am. However, I like to experiment with new versions to keep it fresh. Here’s “Wesley’s Covenant Prayer for Today” from my friend, Craig Finnestad, lead pastor of Water’s Edge United Methodist Church in Omaha, Nebraska.
I was once mine. From this point forward, I am Yours.
Make clear my purposes in life.
Place me among my loved ones and expand my heart to love all.
Help me to think the things You want me to think,
say the things You want me to say,
and do the things You want me to do,
even if it means I am belittled, ignored, or criticized.
Give me people to encourage, serve, and love.
Give me times of peace and rest so I can love and be loved by You.
Let me be a light to a dark world so people can see You working in me.
Make me humble and remind me that everything I have is because of You.
Thank You for times of happiness and prosperity; they are a gift.
Thank You for Your presence and promise in days of sadness and hardship.
I emerge stronger and wiser.
Let me discover, embrace, and fulfill Your will for my life.
With joy & in fullness, I give my possessions, my time, & my energy to You & to Your purposes.
Almighty, holy, & blessed God: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, you are my true love & I am Yours.
And so, it is. Let the covenant I am making here on earth be acceptable & pleasing to You. Amen.
Let’s surrender our lives to God afresh by praying some version of this prayer each day this month.
Glad to be praying with you as we start our ‘20’s,
Roger Ross
P.S. For encouragement, you can receive a weekly Prayer Text by texting KINGDOM to 573-227-6557.
Praying daily for the grace needed to start new places for new people
and transform existing churches across Missouri.
Feel free to pray for a different area each day. Thanks for your prayers!
- SUNDAY: Let’s pray together: Lord, multiply your Kingdom through us.
- MONDAY: THANK GOD for multiplication growth in our Prayer Team! We are SO grateful for 1,009 people praying daily & weekly (by text), representing over 350 churches!! (More prayer releases more power!)
- TUESDAY: Sow in prayer the seeds for a Great Awakening in our churches, communities and nation. Pray for the 11 churches in Missouri in our new Multiplying Kingdom Impact (MKI) consultation process. Ask the Lord Jesus to reveal new insights and ways of being that transform each church. Ask the Holy Spirit to invite 15 churches to begin an MKI process in 2020.
- WEDNESDAY: Ask the Holy Spirit to invite at least 30 people to participate in the next Planting Academy beginning February 2020. Petition the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live and minister in his gifts and power.
- THURSDAY: Hold before the Lord these churches that are starting something new in 2020: Eureka UMC 2nd site in the Fall of 2020. Good Shepherd UMC new worship site in the Spring of 2020. Church of the Shepherd UMC 2nd site in the Fall 2020. North Cross UMC 2nd site in the Fall of 2020.
- FRIDAY: Seek God’s will to reveal clear next steps for the United Methodist Church around the world and for our Missouri Conference. Pray: Lord, give us a kind spirit of cooperation to create a new future.
- SATURDAY: PRAISE GOD for our new CE staff team of Geoff Posegate, Melanie Smollen, Tammy Calcote and Roger Ross. As we kick off the ‘20’s, please…
- Invite the Holy Spirit to move in each of the “How to Connect New People to Christ” workshops being offered in each of our 9 Districts. As of January 1, 22 of at least 27 workshops have taken place.
- Ask God to spiritually prepare each of our 9 District Innovation Teams to lead these workshops, and for pastors and lay leaders to be inspired to engage in a 6-week study in their church on the book Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders.
