Thoughts at the New Year

For the last several years I have not watched the television festivities on New Year's Eve.  This year my older two children begged to stay up and watch the Times Square events, and my wife and I relented.  


I remembered why I lost interest in watching the New Year celebrations.  As I watched thousands of people get so excited about the fresh start of the new year, forgetting the troubles of 2010 and looking toward the promises of 2011, I hurt for them.  They looked so eager for a fresh start.  But I know the wonderful truth that I can have a fresh start any day, any time.  I don't need to wait for the turn of the year; I can have a fresh start right now.


First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  In Lamentations 3:22-23 we read, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  


If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you can have a fresh start any time you want it!  God's forgiveness is freely offered to us (1 John 1:9).  No matter what we've done in the past, we can have a fresh start right now and move forward with new grace from God.  

The Apostle Paul wrote, "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13b-14).  Let us do this not only at the turn of the year, but every single day!