New Beginnings – New Year
In approximately 24 hours, a new year will begin. Resolutions are laughed at as people stand in office break rooms, dance their way through the last party and sit quietly in front of their fireplace. In some way, we all want a “better” year. Whether it is in relationships, personal or professional decisions; whatever our previous choices and opportunities, we want another chance to walk towards “better.”
s Christians we often forget that every day, every hour, every minute we have the opportunity to make a change and move towards a better way. It isn’t complicated and it does not require us to twist ourselves into a “new” person by relying on a best seller self-help book, a new gym membership or even the never-ending de-toxing diet!
The open door into a new direction, a new day, a new life has been bought and given to me by Jesus Christ. His Blood covers all my poor, terrible choices that lead me into destruction. In three simple words, “I need you” mumbled to this Savior, He touches me with His cleansing, healing hand and leads me back to His path. And this is not just a one time happening. And it is not a happening dependent upon the approval and applause of people around me. It is a gift from my loving Father to bring peace, beyond my understanding, as I walk every day, holding fast to His hand and seeking His wisdom in everything that I do. A New year indeed!
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. – Lamentations 3:21-26 (NIV)
It is hard for me to understand the great love of God. His love that is there, just for me to scoop up and drench myself in. I spend a lot of time reading passages that speak of God’s great love. I have made a change to listen more when I am in prayer with God. And I hear Him speak to my heart of His loving care for me.
Let us treat each day in 2015 as an opportunity to begin again with our Father God. Let us wake up each morning with expectancy and joy. And if we are stumbling through the day, let us stop and turn to our Father God with Hope in our hearts to begin again. Father God is faithful and true.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.[a]4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. – Revelation 21:1-7 (NLT)
And here is a glimpse into our eternal, forever life with God. It is a passage of Hope and Encouragement. Let us also be found faithful to live and think like we have this Hope no matter what the world throws at us!
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart
and tell about the wonders you have worked.
2 God Most High, I will rejoice;
I will celebrate and sing because of you. – Psalm 9:1-2 (CEV)
I will sing and celebrate in my spirit, with thanksgiving I will lay my head down each night! Thank you. LORD, for Your faithfulness!
Come As You Are by Pocket Full of Rocks