January 14, 2025
Morning by morning new mercies I see! Great is Thy faithfulness, dear Lord, unto me.—Thomas Chisholm
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The dawning of every new day could be seen as a symbol of God’s light breaking through the darkness and His mercy overcoming our troubles. Every morning demonstrates God’s grace, a new beginning in which gloom must flee. We need look no further than the breath in our lungs, the sun that shines upon us, or the rain that falls to nourish the soil. The mercies of God continue to come to us via a multitude of manifestations.
There is no expiration date on God’s mercy toward us. His mercies are new every morning in that they are perpetual and always available to those in need. We have our ups and downs, and “even youths grow tired and weary” (Isaiah 40:30), but God is faithful through it all. With the dawn of each day comes a new batch of compassion made freshly available to us. God’s compassion is poured out from an infinite store; His mercies will never run out.—GotQuestions.org1
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Every morning is a new chance to do things differently, better than we have before—especially when we take time to connect with God, get His perspective on the areas we want to improve in, and ask Him to help us make the necessary adjustments in our thinking, attitudes, and actions.
A wonderful way to start your day is with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His loving care. Take a few minutes first thing in the morning to do this and see what a difference it makes in your day. You can pray the following prayer and adapt it to your situation.
Thank You for this new day, fresh and clean, unspoiled by yesterday’s messes and mistakes. You made all things new.
Thank You for brand-new mercy, brand-new love, brand-new forgiveness, renewed strength, and Your unfailing promise of help. You’re so wonderful to me, so patient with my shortcomings and my weaknesses.
I leave all my mistakes and failures behind. Help me to go forward, with my hand in Yours.—Activated magazine
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I want to give you a new start. When you feel discouraged about a mistake you’ve made or a weakness you have, remember that I use weak, fallible people to show My love to the world. I allowed the disappointments and setbacks you’ve experienced in order to make you gentler, more compassionate, more understanding of others’ weaknesses—more like Me—so you can be a greater help to others.
Even your difficult experiences can work together for good for you. If you will put yourself into My hands and be soft and moldable, like clay in the hands of a master potter, I will remake you. I will take your broken dreams, heartaches, disappointments, and with My hands of love, I will make you into a better “pot.” It may not be as grand or beautiful or perfect as what you had in mind, but it will be perfect in My sight, perfect for the role I have for you to play, and perfect for your place in My heavenly kingdom.—Jesus
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What does the Bible say about new beginnings?
New beginnings happen in season. Life can be so wonderfully measured by seasons and stages. Fall begins with the shedding of colorful leaves; winter begins with a cold bed of snow; spring begins with the sprouting of new life; and summer begins with warm sunny days. Ecclesiastes 3:1–5 says: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing.”…
The former things pass away and all things are made new. God doesn’t remember our past, he gives us a fresh start. Isaiah 43:18–19 says: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Perseverance is the path to new beginnings. Perseverance is the pathway to a new start because a new beginning often requires patience. James 5:11 says: “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the LORD finally brought about. The LORD is full of compassion and mercy.”
A new beginning can start right where you are. A new beginning awaits anyone who is willing and wanting to make Jesus Christ the Lord of their life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”—The Billy Graham Library2
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I had deep questions on an ordinary day when I looked in the mirror and asked, Who am I now that my life is so different again? What am I supposed to do, and who do I want to be in this new season?
So much had changed in my life over the past 10 years that I found myself pondering my identity in this new phase of life and my desires for the future.
I knew I had to let go of what was gone, appreciate what remained, determine what was next. …
God is always at work, bringing forth newness and transformation in our hearts and lives. … Perhaps you are in a transition period right now—a career change, a relationship transition, a personal challenge, or just a new and unfamiliar season of life. Maybe you are longing to reinvent yourself and reshape your life, but you feel unsure of how to begin and doubtful of whether you have what it takes. Below are five steps to help you move into the new thing God has for you.
Step 1: Identify what you want to change or improve. Allow yourself to consider who you want to be and what you want to accomplish.
Step 2: Determine any skills you may need to develop to move forward, and be willing to invest in yourself.
Step 3: Map out a life plan. A dream without a plan is just a wish. Without setting goals for ourselves, we’ll stay stuck right where we are.
Step 4: Spend time in solitude and prayer, asking God to guide your steps.
Step 5: Get out of your comfort zone and start working toward your goals! Maintain a positive attitude, and stay focused on your aspirations.
It’s natural to feel apprehensive about the unknown, but God’s ability to bring about transformation and renewal in our lives never fails. We can trust in His sovereignty, remembering He is the master of making all things new … including helping us to become the best version of ourselves and to enjoy the lives He has given us.
Lord, You know the desires of my heart. Walk beside me, and help me embrace my new season with optimism and excitement. Thank You for the promise of new beginnings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.—Tracie Miles3
Published on Anchor January 2025. Read by Jerry Paladino. Music by John Listen.
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