A fresh start in life can be so attractive and most of us would admit that we’ve longed for one at various times. Thankfully, God specializes in giving people a fresh start. Through Jesus Christ we can have a fresh start, a clean slate and a new beginning in life.
This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.
On New Year’s Day, people make resolutions, and while I’m not opposed to them, it was 30
years ago this month that I yearned for something so much more. I had made resolutions to
improve myself, but I had failed. I needed the kind of life change that comes only through a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. So, it was on Sunday, New Year’s day, in 1989, that I attended church and heard that through Christ, I could have a new life and a fresh start. That same day, I prayed to accept Him as my Lord and Savior.
Since then, I regularly ask God to convict me of my sins and empower me to confess and turn
from them quickly. As I do so, I know I’m forgiven and it’s wonderful to know that because of Christ, I can have a clean slate.
But, there’s another type of fresh start that God gives me and that is renewed hope. I often find myself depleted and in need of hope and encouragement in life. I pray and recite Bible verses and soon I am filled with His peace, and my faith is strengthened (Romans 15:13).
Most of us want a fresh start in life when we have failed or have regrets. We may experience
despair or feel that we are beyond hope and too far gone to believe that a come-back or a new
beginning is possible.
But, that isn’t true, because through Christ, we can have a new beginning and a fresh start; because of God’s extravagant love (1 John 3:1).
However, we need to come to Christ, because apart from Him we are lost. Indeed, we need a fresh start, but we also need forgiveness, because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23, 6:23). We need to make peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). He alone died for our sins and was raised from the dead to give us a fresh start and a new life (Romans 5:8, 10:9-10).
Jesus is our hope for a fresh start. When we come to Him for salvation, He comes into our lives and makes everything new, and we become born again (John 3:3-8).
Revelation 3:20 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (NIV)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)
It seems like a contradiction, but we’re actually blessed when we need a fresh start. Because,
when we’re at the bottom, the only way to go is up and when we’re empty, we’re perfectly
positioned to be filled.
As we realize our inability to help or save ourselves; we are blessed, if we recognize our need for God (Matthew 5:3). This is the best place to be, because it’s in our humility that we are
candidates to receive God’s grace (James 4:6).
God can give us a fresh start when life seems barren.
Isaiah 43:19 says, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (NLT)
Psalm 40:3 says, “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.” (NLT)
Psalm 98:1 says, “Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!” (NLT)
Becoming a Christian, doesn’t mean that we won’t have problems, or have to face negative
consequences as a result of our sins; but that God will walk with us through difficulties and He will use them for our good (Romans 8:28).
Sometimes, we need a fresh start, because we are discouraged or even worn out. But, who better to restore hope to us than the One with inexhaustible resources?
"Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT)
How wonderful to know that God specializes in giving people a fresh start through Christ. We
can come to Him and know that He will be faithful to extend mercy and love to us each day.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (NLT)
Could you use a fresh start in life?
Please click here if you would like to accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior now and
read more about the next steps that you can take to grow spiritually in your new faith.
Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.
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God specializes in giving people a fresh start. -Rick Warren CLICK TO TWEET
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Additional resources about related subjects on this site:
Five Questions for Those Who Think Many Roads Lead to Heaven
Podcast: Will someone lose their salvation if they commit terrible sins?
How To Overcome The Agony of Discouragement and Find Hope Again
Does Salvation Come Only Through Faith in Christ (Exclusivism)?
How a Life Vision Helps You Reduce Stress and Accomplish More
Quotecard: We Make Our Decisions...
Video vlog: Feeling low?
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