Finding His Footsteps (New Year's Day)

“Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters, and Thy footsteps are not known.  Thou leddest Thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Psalm 77:19,20).  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge… How long, ye simple ones, will… fools hate knowledge? Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you” (Proverbs 1:7,22, 23).  “ Jesus answered… To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.  Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth?” (John 18:37,38). 

The new year has arrived today  

In waters yet uncharted,

Yet God is leading all the way;

He’ll finish what He started.

He leads His people like a flock

All through this desert land

As surely as when they did walk

When led by Moses’ hand.

And though the footsteps of our God

To scorners are not known,

He leads His sheep with staff and rod

And walks with all His own.

Yet rebels now are called to find

The footsteps where God leads;

The Lord will give the willing mind

The knowledge that it needs.

To those who heed Him and are turned,

His Spirit shall be poured, 

And thus His footsteps are discerned

By those who fear the Lord.

So everyone who hears His voice

Has heard His invitation,

And in His footsteps they rejoice

And walk in His salvation.

Yet there are those who still refuse

To see the truth they face.

Like Pilate, they may also choose

To spurn God’s saving grace.

As Pilate, they may blindly pose

The question, “What is truth?”

But Christ who came, who died, and rose,

Has given ample proof.

O Lord, Your footsteps that You show

As this new year begins

Are clear to all who gladly know

Your grace that purges sins!

We follow You, O Lord, this year

In footsteps You make plain,

Constrained by love and godly fear;

All other paths are vain!