The new year provides us with a golden opportunity to make a fresh start. So many begin an exercise regimen on Jan. 1. Others go on a diet. Many more make commitments to give up bad habits.
So often these best laid plans go by the wayside by the time we reach Valentine’s Day. But many do stick, and I am always impressed by friends and loved ones who stay committed to the resolutions made on this day, Dec. 31, each year.
But the concept of a fresh start in a Christian context is much broader. I am constantly going back to these words from Lamentations 3:22-23:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Every morning! Not just once a year, but every morning God’s mercy to us is new. We as his followers have a fresh day every day because of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. All our sins are forgiven day after day.
No matter what we did or failed to do yesterday or last year, we have a clean slate in Christ. We can start over with him and seek to follow his will and bring glory to him in the days ahead.
God knows we fail, God knows we mess up. God knows we don’t always keep our resolutions. But he still loves us and gives us a new chance each and every day to live for him anew.
Think each morning of the newness of life that God gives to us with the dawn of every day. Each day is like a Jan. 1 and we have been granted a reboot. And, like the verse from Lamentations says, he is faithful, and he will help us through each new day to stay committed to him. What a gift! Happy New Year and Happy New Day to each of you!
