A New Start
Who doesn't like a fresh start? We all do.
A fresh beginning means no looking back, no regrets and a clean slate.
A few years back I did a Word study with my Bible study friends on the word NEW in the Bible. It was astounding to see the number of ‘new’s in the Bible.
New mercies ( Lamentations 3:23), new grace (2 Corinthians 9:8), a new heart ( Ezekiel 3:26) are a few verses which stuck with me.
Maybe you are starting a new job or a new course. Maybe you are looking ahead at a new role as a mother and are eagerly awaiting a new baby. But do you know that God blesses each of us with new moments and new days? I love how Frances Havergal talks of our moments and our days.
“Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.”
Some days flow with praise quite naturally but on some days praise on our lips seem impossible. It is then that we need to remember that we don't have to and can never do it in our own strength.
“Saviour let me walk beside you
Talking listening all the time
Let me know the strength of walking
In your steps and not in mine.“
Every new day calls us to talk to God (pray) and listen to God(read / study the Bible). We can do the praying and the Bible reading and studying in our own way and style because God created us and he knows and understands. As we spend time with God we slowly change to be like Him. We get a new attitude ( Ephesians 4:23) and can experience the ceaseless joy we read about in the hymn we just read. God never leaves us on our own. Whether it is a hard relationship, a difficult diagnosis or a mean employer, always remind yourself that we face our new day with Jesus beside. We walk in His steps and not our own.
Remember the traffic light. When everything lines up as you pray and ask God, go ahead with the green light. When God asks you to pause, by all means pause at the orange light and when it is a red, do stop and wait for God's prompt to proceed.
So what are we waiting for?
Let's walk into our new day talking and listening to Jesus, our hearts overflowing in ceaseless praise.