Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow;
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out false, ring in true.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Church bells may not be heard as much as they once were, but the words of this hymn still ring true. As I reflected on Tennyson’s words this week, I have been encouraged not to make new year’s resolutions but to focus on singing a new song to the Lord each new day of 2016.
I have asked the Lord to help me fully embrace the grace and peace that come from the very heart of God. Also, I have prayed I would not waste my energy striving to be my best false self, but simply be the better true self God created me to be. But more than anything, I have recognized my deepest longing to live in the light of Christ’s love even in my darkest hours.
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
~Psalm 89:1
In what ways do the words of this hymn ring true for you?
May God’s steadfast love and faithfulness be made known to us and through us in the year ahead.
Come Learn Rest Ministries 