Almighty God,
by whose mercy my life has continued for another year,
I pray that, as my years increase, my sins may not increase.
As age advances,
let me become more open, more faithful and more trusting in you.
Let me not be distracted by lesser things
from what is truly unimportant
And if I become frail as I grow old,
may I not be overwhelmed by self-pity or bitterness.
Continue and increase your loving-kindness towards me,
so that, when you finally call me to yourself,
I may enter into eternal happiness with you,
through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English writer and Anglican
The Book of a Thousand Prayers, slightly updated
___________________
Do not let sin control the way you live;
do not give in to sinful desires.
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil
to serve sin.
Instead, give yourselves completely to God,
for you were dead, but now you have new life.
So use your whole body as an instrument
to do what is right for the glory of God.
prayer & verse 
What a powerful prayer to open the New Year but also one so appropriate for someone my age. Amen.
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