New Year, Fresh Start

 

  New Year, Fresh Start

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?" Isaiah 43:18-19

Traditionally as we celebrate the beginning of a new year, we declare a fresh start an opportunity to accomplish those ambitions we started with intentions of achieving them perhaps in the year or two prior. After all, this could be the year our plans come to fruition.

There's just something about knowing you have a fresh, clean slate, so to speak, as the new year rings in. However, we're reminded in Lamentations 3:22-23, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. This means every day He allows us to make wiser choices than the day before with no judgment. That book we were compelled to pick up and read as a teaching point in our life, but then laid down because life happens. A word of encouragement we felt led to give to someone God laid on our heart, but then other plans consumed our mind as the day went on. He's not shaking his head in disbelief; instead He stands by patiently waiting for us to see ourselves as He sees us. 

I've walked down paths that I'm not proud of, and made decisions out of haste instead of seeking wisdom. But God has reminded me that He loves me with an unconditional love and He holds no record of my faults. He gives the assurance that each day is a new day, a new possibility to plant seeds of righteousness.

So as we start the new year, remember we live one day at time. We can't dwell on past mistakes or missed opportunities. We have to work to complete those things we laid down the day before giving our absolute best, not allowing our feelings of failure to overtake our thoughts, and pressing forward knowing that His mercy will carry us through.

-Written By Darla Dean