December 29, 2014

New Year, Fresh Start

Words from Jesus

Audio length: 5:20
Download Audio (4.8MB)

Each new year brings with it many things. It’s full of freshness, growth, and new experiences. It’s full of second chances, forgiveness, and opportunities to try again. It’s also full of tests, new challenges, and its share of difficulties and problems.

The most important thing in your new year is your relationship with Me. Because with Me at your side, you’re guaranteed to make it through whatever this new year may hold.

It’s been wisely said that life on earth is a testing ground and a learning experience, and with Me as your guide and coach, you’re sure to be successful. Your success may not look like success as it is popularly perceived, but you will be successful in the things that last beyond this life and into eternity.

Enter this new year with Me, holding My hand, and letting Me lead and guide you. Although I can’t promise that the paths you will walk this year will be easy or problem-free, I can promise you that My strength will always be sufficient for you, and that you will not face a challenge too big or too difficult for you and Me to handle together. If you can believe this and commit to trusting Me no matter what comes your way, you’ll find that nothing will surprise you so greatly as to undermine your confidence and trust in Me.

When difficulties and challenges arise, remember My promise to help you through. Remember that when you are weak, I am strong. This will fill you with peace and confidence for your year ahead—the confidence of knowing that I, the maker of heaven and earth, am with you.

As we walk through this year together, the challenges you face can become opportunities for you to experience My unfailing power and strength. The choices that you face will be easier to make with My counsel to direct you. The connections and relationships you have this year will be sweeter and deeper as more of Me shines through you. At the close of this new year you’ll be able to look back and see the progress you’ve made and look forward to another year with Me.

Look back and see how far you’ve come this last year. Look at all the victories that have been won, all that you’ve learned, and how much you’ve grown. You’ve come through some pretty tough times, but you didn’t give up when the going got tough. You held on, fought through to victory, and now you’re stronger and your faith has grown. Everything that you’ve gone through has helped you in some way, and will also serve to help you in the future. Being able to look back and enjoy the victories of the last year is part of the reward of making it past the obstacles and overcoming them.

Now that you’ve looked back at the view from the mountain you climbed last year, look ahead to the future and to the mountain of this next year in front of you. This next mountain looks higher than the one you just climbed, and it is. But that also means that the summit is going to have an even more incredible view! And even though this new mountain may present a few more challenges than the last one, because of the experience you’ve gained and the things you’ve learned, you’re stronger and more prepared to tackle the challenges ahead. Plus, with Me as your guide, you can’t go wrong. I’ll be with you every step of the way on the climb.

Much of life is about the little decisions you make every day. Decisions of the past have had their effect on your life, but every new day can be a new start. No matter what has happened up till now, you have a chance to make the right choices today.

Don’t waste time reliving the pain of past mistakes and wrong decisions. That only saps your power to do the good that you can do today. You can’t change the past, but you can make decisions that will build the future, starting right now, so take full advantage of the present.

Learn from past mistakes and put them behind you today. Forgive those who have wronged you and ask forgiveness from those you have wronged. That probably won’t be easy, but don’t put it off; determine today to do it. Look to Me and My Word for fresh courage and hope, starting today. Dream new dreams today. Set new goals today. Spend your time on things that truly count today. Love your family today. Be a friend today. Do things better, starting today.

Originally published October 2008. Adapted and republished December 2014.
Read by Jon Marc.

Posted in: audio, decisions and choice, new year, relationship with the lord, words from jesus