Christian Poems For The New Year

Table of Contents

• Reflections on the Past Year
• Poems About Trust and Faith in God’s Guidance
• Hope and Renewal Poems for the New Year
• Poems about Commitment to God’s Will

Reflections on the Past Year

These poems reflect on the passing year, offering gratitude and wisdom as the New Year begins.


1. Stroke of Twelve
   Poet: George L. Perin
   
   How the stroke of twelve at night makes one stop and think!
   It is a little more impressive than any other hour of the day or night.
   Yet more impressive is the passing of a year.
   It is the last day of the Old Year.
   The clock ticks loud as if by the swinging of the pendulum of fate.
   One waits as for a signal to launch his boat upon an unknown sea — a New Year.
   He knows not what storm or tide may catch his craft nor whither it may be driven.
   Yet he may not wait, the hour strikes, he must embark.
   Ah, then he needs a God, bigger than the storms and winds and rocks,
   a God that lives and stays and speaks.




New Year Poems



2. At The Close Of The Year
   Poet: Jennie Mast
   
   In solemn measured tones the midnight bells
   Ring: out the closing of another year,
   The while with gratitude our bosom swells
   As on its closing page we drop a tear.
   Its folded diary we'll lay aside,
   Nor pause the moistened pages to interview;
   If failures in its columns are inscribed,
   A spotless one is offered in the new.
   
   If any past event we would recall,
   Forbid that failure interpose a pain;
   His tender love so gracious unto all
   Will count the failures past a future gain.
   And while upon the threshold of the new
   We linger at His lovely feet to pray,
   Depending on his guardian love so true
   To keep the new year's pages clean each day.
   
   We would not fail to hymn a grateful song
   For blessings past that marked the old year through:
   Have not the closed pages one by one
   Been sprinkled oft with Horeb's precious dew?
   And on those moistened leaves we can retrace
   The needed strength in sorest trials given;
   In memory 'twill hold a sacred place
   When we review the record up in heaven.
   
   Methinks if yonder record we might see,
   Our weepings should become one grateful song;
   For we would find inscribed indelibly
   The victories our tears and prayers have won;
   For there in golden letters are enrolled
   The precious jewels added to His crown —
   The straying ones we sheltered from the cold
   Or gathered 'neath the noonday's beaming sun.
   
   The new year offers us a wider range
   In which our faith may exercise a claim,
   And from the millions lost 'twould not be strange
   If many precious souls should be our gain.
   For this we'll labor on from early morn,
   And in the shade of each approaching night
   We'll pray that from the seeds our hands have strewn
   Some fallen, helpless souls may see the light.
   
   Afar beyond the ocean's rolling waves
   A multitude awaits the joyful sound,
   And Calvary's atonement freely saves
   Wherever the lost and dying may be found.
   In all the world, from Greenland's icy strand
   To every isle and clime beyond the sea,
   All creatures who repent at His command
   Are bound in cords of love and unity.
   
   We trust that ere the midnight bells so true
   Shall ring the closing of another year
   Our gathered sheaves may number not a few,
   Though they be sprinkled over with many a tear.
   If missing tithes today were quickly brought,
   Each laborer would surely be supplied,
   And far and near His jewels would be sought;
   For lack of means not one would be denied.
   
   And in that coming year's immortal dawn —
   That grand new year whose bells will never toll —
   We'll find the triumphs that our labor won
   Will number many a precious ransomed soul.
   What matter for the painful toiling here?
   What matter for the weepings all the way,
   If we but gain that other blessed new year,
   Where sighings cease and tears are wiped away?


Related: Religious New Years Poems




Poems About Trust and Faith in God’s Guidance

Poems that encourage unwavering trust in God’s love and guidance as we face the unknown of a new year.


3. Be Not Afraid
   Poet: George L. Perin
   
   Be not afraid, dear friend,
   What of sickness!
   What of sorrow!
   What of failure!
   What of misfortune!
   What of death!
   
   Is not this God's world?
   Are not you God's child?
   
   Go forth into the New Year with brave heart.
   When fortune smiles, smile with her.
   When fortune frowns, smile the more,
   And trust in God.




Trust In God Poems



4. Be Close Tonight
   Poet: Mary Baldwin
   
   O God, who lurketh in the star
   And 'neath all living things that are,
   Grant us Thy nearness. Let Thy might
   Spell itself through the silent night.
   
   In midnight skies, or restless sea,
   Teach us to find some touch of Thee.
   Teach us the strength of the swaying pine,
   The courage to sink our lives in Thine;
   
   And in duties that irk and worries that thrall
   To find Thee waiting behind them all.
   God grant that in lowliest things we may see
   Their link to a reasoned Eternity.
   
   Now the New Year comes and the Old takes flight;
   Dear God of our years, be close tonight!




New Year Prayers



5. This New Year
   Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
   
   For the year that has passed, Lord we thank you.
   For the coming year, Lord we thank you.
   For the people you have put in our path, Lord we thank you
   For the blessings you have generously given us, Lord we thank you.
   
   Let us being your shining light in this new year.
   Let us always see and help with the needs of others this new year.
   Let us share what we have this new year.
   And, let us praise and worship you in freedom this new year.


Related: Inspirational Poems For The New Year




Hope and Renewal Poems for the New Year

These verses offer hopeful insights for embracing fresh beginnings and renewed spirits in the New Year.


6. New Year In Christ
   Poet: Frances Ridley Havergal
   
   New mercies, new blessings, new light on the way;
   New courage, new hope, and new strength for each day;
   New wine in the chalice, new altars to raise;
   New fruits for thy Master, new garments of praise;
   New gifts from His treasures, new smiles from His face;
   New streams from the fountain of infinite grace;
   New stars for thy crown, and new tokens of love;
   New gleams of the glory that waits thee above;
   New light of His countenance, full and unpriced, —
   All this be the joy of thy new year in Christ!




New Years Blessings



7. This Year Shall Be The Best
   by George L. Perin
   
   With outstretched hand and eager heart,
   I shall meet the New Year like a messenger of God
   Come to bring me good news.
   
   I shall not be afraid as if he were come to spy upon my actions;
   I shall not question him as if I doubted his veracity;
   I shall not distrust him as if he bore a poisoned chalice,
   For then were he to me no messenger of God.
   
   The years have all been good,
   But this year shall be the best of all because
   The very latest word from Him who loves me.


Related: Christian Poems Of Hope




Poems about Commitment to God’s Will

Poems that inspire dedication to God’s will, emphasizing love, obedience, and purpose for the New Year.


8. Called to His Path
   Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
   
   A new year dawns with hope and grace,
   A chance to run this faithful race.
   With love as light and truth to guide,
   I walk with God close by my side.
   
   In each day’s work, in acts so small,
   I’ll seek His purpose, heed His call.
   Not by my will, but His alone,
   I step in trust, in Him made strong.
   
   Obedience grows with steady pace,
   My heart aligned, my fears erased.
   For in His love, I find my way -
   A life renewed each blessed day.




The Closing Year, A Christ-Centered Poem of Reflection



9. New Year Motto
   Poet: Unknown
   
   I asked the New Year for some motto sweet,
   Some rule of life with which to guide my feet.
   I asked and paused. He answered soft and low:
   "God's will to know."
   
   "Will knowledge, then, suffice, New Year " I cried;
   And ere the question into silence died
   The answer came: "Nay, but remember, too,
   God's will to do."
   
   Once more I asked: "Is there no more to tell? "
   And once again the answer softly fell:
   "Yes; this one thing, all other things above -
   God's will to love."


Related: New Year's Hymn