I love a new start! I thank God that New Year’s come and the seasons change. They each invite us into a time of renewal.  With the New Year we think about new commitments and setting goals. We anticipate the opportunity to start a new calendar, a new work-out schedule, a new out look on life, and perhaps a new focus in our direction.

What an amazing God we have that He would put newness and fresh starts into the cycle of life. That He would encourage new beginnings. Yet that’s who He is. He is a God of grace that is always extending His hand of mercy. He is a God who invites us daily to be renewed—to put off the old and put on the new. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Out with the old and in with the new! What is it that you need to put off this year? What old self…old thoughts…old grudges…old regrets…old attitudes do you need to put off?  What’s standing in your way from starting off the year fresh and renewed?

Acts 3:19 says, “Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

Wiped out! I love that! No sin is too big. No sin is too ugly. No sin is too old. He says repent of it and He will WIPE IT OUT! …YAY!!!

Turn to Him and times of refreshing will come. You want a FRESH NEW YEAR then put off the OLD and put on the NEW!!! You know what that means? We don’t have to walk around in old clothes…we don’t have to walk around weighted down by the past…we got a new self to put on!

WOW! Talk about a new beginning!