Blog

Pondering Prayers: Anew

By: Steve Negley

Posted: November 15, 2018

Category: Daily Devotional

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Revelation 21:1-7

I have heard it said that “Nobody likes change — except a baby with a dirty diaper.” Change can be difficult. But newness is also a blessing.

In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, God promises to make all things new. I wonder if we have to wait until the end of all time for change to come, or if God’s good change happens little bits at a time even in our lives even today?

In the Worshipbook (jointly published in the early 1970’s by The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, The PCUS, and The United Presbyterian Church), we find this prayer for use “In a Time of Change.” Does this prayer give any comfort today?

Prayer

All things are new in Your grace, Lord God, and old things pass away. Break our hold on familiar things that You discard, and give us forward-looking courage to reach toward wiser ways. Lead us beyond ourselves to the new life promised in Jesus Christ, who is first and last, the beginning and the end. Amen.