NEW YEAR / NEW BEGINNINGS

With a new year, it brings New Beginnings. I’m not one for new year resolutions- yes, I think about them and jot down a few areas I’d like to improve on, areas I’d like to help my children grow in, but to actually make resolutions is hard- as everyone says, come about March, you stop working on them and say “oh well, I’ll start again next  year.” Sadly, that’s how life works, we say we want to work on something then life gets busy and what you wanted to work on dies and there goes life with its chaos and busyness.  

So that’s what made me think about the new year and it brings new beginnings, we get a new start on making things happen, living a better and more glorious life for the Lord. So, when we think of new beginnings, what do we think of? What areas of our lives do we think we really need to work on and change? Are there areas we just really need to cut out for good? Areas where it’s not bad or wrong per say, but just not beneficial or glorifying to the Lord? So, were going to talk about New Beginnings in Christ.

The verse I’m going to use for this study is 2 Corinthians 5:17- “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” As Christians, our ultimate new beginning is found in Christ.  So, to start, were going to talk a little first on where our new beginnings start and Who gives us new beginnings. The God of new beginnings.

God’s Nature – Renewing and Restoring.

We read in Lamentations 3:22,23- my number one favorite verse; “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not, they are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.” God’s mercies are continual, they give us fresh opportunities every day. The mercies of God are a boundless gift, renewed for us every single day. God’s mercy is not a one-time event, but their ongoing.

Each and every day, no matter our failures or struggles, God provides us with a fresh opportunity to start new. His compassion is limitless, He meets us in our weakness, offers us grace for every moment. His continual mercy is a reflection of His unchanging faithfulness. His mercies serve as a constant reminder that His love never fails. No matter how we may stumble, God’s mercy offers us a clean slate, empowering us to grow closer to Him and fulfill His purposes in our lives. We in turn, should extend grace to others, we should honor Him who gives us every opportunity to begin fresh again- each and every day!!

As I was thinking on new beginning I could make in my life, it also got me thinking on new beginnings that God gave people that we read about in the bible. Let’s start with Noah. In Genesis  we read of the account of Noah and his family. After the flood, God gave the earth a fresh start.  The world was full of sin, mockery, and disrespect, so He sent the flood and saved Noah and his family in the ark and the world began new again. Very much like our days now. We prayed a couple of months ago for the Lord to be generous and give us a leader to help reshape and start over. He was gracious, and by His will, as we pray and seek His guidance and will, things will get better.

In Genesis 6:5 we read, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Humanity had reached a point of moral corruption. Sin was rampant, and the earth was filled with violence. Genesis 6:11, “The earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence.” God decided to cleanse the earth through the flood, yet He showed mercy by sparing Noah and his family. So, we see, even in judgment, God provides a way for redemption and new beginnings.

Now, how has God brought restoration to areas of brokenness in your life? We see Noah’s faith and obedience. Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Noah stood out in a corrupt generation because of his righteousness and his faith. Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet….prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” Noah obeyed God’s instructions, even though they may have seemed incomprehensible, (meaning building an ark for a flood in a world that had never experienced rain).

Obedience to God’s Word often requires faith, even when His plans seem unusual or delayed. Are there areas in our lives where God is asking you to trust Him, as Noah did? After the floodwaters receded, God established a new covenant with Noah: in Genesis 9: verses 8-11 God promised to never destroy the earth with a flood again. Genesis 9:13 we see the rainbow was given as a sign of this covenant,  symbolizing God’s faithfulness and mercy. God’s covenants remind us that He is faithful to His promises. Let’s learn as we start this new year, to cling to His faithfulness.

Genesis 9:1, “And God blesses Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.” God gave Noah the same command He gave Adam, signaling a new beginning for humanity. Every new beginning comes with responsibility. (dig)

So, what lessons can we learn from Noah’s new beginning?

We can see that new beginnings often come after trials. The flood was a time of waiting and testing for Noah and his family. They spent over a year on the ark before stepping onto dry land. We also see that Sometimes, God’s timing requires patience, but His plans are always for our good. His plan is always only good.

Psalm 27:14 we are reminded “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.” I see as I study Noah that God honors faithfulness. Noah’s obedience led to the salvation of his family and a new chapter for the world.

I also see that even new beginnings can have challenges. After the flood, Noah faced difficulties, he had moments of failure- we read that in Genesis chapter 9. Even so, God’s covenant remained intact, showing that His faithfulness is greater than our imperfections. Praise the Lord on that one, right?

The next person we are going to look at is Abraham.

Abraham was called to leave his homeland for a new beginning in God’s plan. God called Abraham to leave the old behind. Genesis 12:1: “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” God called Abraham to leave his familiar surroundings, family, the comfort of his home.

I think about missionaries as I read this. Missionaries do this don’t they? They leave everything behind for something they don’t know, but their willing, because God called them and because of their faithfulness and willing hearts they go and obey God’s command. Abraham did not know the exact location God was calling him to go, the bible says, “he went out not knowing whither he went.” Starting a new chapter often involves leaving behind what is comfortable.

We’ve  followed the Lord’s leading on leaving twice in our lives. Our biggest move was from Indiana to Arizona. That was an exciting, but scary time in our lives. We had lived by family and friends for so long, we were comfortable where we were and how life was going. Then one day we weren’t, we knew God had something different for us. We always knew that once our kids were adopted, we wanted to leave the area. And well, two days after their adoption we were gone.

Actually, my husband had left months earlier, he had to start his new job then, he travelled back and forth, and the kids and I made the long but fun trek back and forth, those were some fun exciting times. But our adventure in Az lasted only a couple years and we felt uneasy again. We knew the Lord had something different for us.

This time it was as church planters. Wow! That was a big one! Going from just laymen in a church to being church planters. We moved cross country yet again, this time from Az to Fl.  Planting this church, yes exciting, but very hard, stressful at times. We had a timetable we were going by, but God, had His timetable. See, we didn’t feel the Lord leading us to travel to get support for this. We did travel for a couple of months, to several churches, and the Lord is good, we do get some support, but we felt the need to move and get started on what the Lord called us to do here.

God promised Abraham blessings and a new nation. Genesis 12:2,3, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” God promised Abraham not only personal blessings but that he would become a blessing to all nations. You see, this new beginning wasn’t just about Abraham’s life-it was part of God’s greater plan of redemption for the world. New beginnings are often tied to God’s larger purposes. Abraham’s journey wasn’t without challenges. He faced years of waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Genesis 15 we read about how God promised that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars, this was when him and Sarah did not have children yet. Abraham was strong in his faith. Romans 4:20, 21 we read, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” God changed Abraham’s name to Abram, this is to show his new identity as the father of many nations. This covenant marked a fresh beginning.

Just as Abram was given a new identity, we as Christians also are given a new identity in Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 we read, “Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.” Are we embracing this identity we have in Christ? Abraham was given the biggest test of faith when he was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, Isaac was the son of promise. Abraham obeyed without hesitation, trusting God’s provision. Genesis 22:8 says, “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”

God did provide something different, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram, showing His faithfulness and Abraham’s faith.  Sometimes, God will ask us to surrender what we hold dear to trust Him fully. Are we willing to trust God with every area of our lives?  

Another bible character we can learn new beginning from is that of the Apostle Paul.

Paul’s life was radically transformed by God’s grace. Paul’s life demonstrates the power of God to take someone from a path of destruction to one of purpose and redemption. Before Paul’s conversion, Paul was known as Saul, a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians- Acts 9 describes him as “breathing out threatening’s and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.” Yet, despite his actions, God saw potential in Saul and gave him a new beginning.

On the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the risen Christ. Acts 9 we read about this life-changing moment, when a blinding light stopped Saul in his tracks, and Jesus asked, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” From that moment on Saul was transformed. He became Paul, a devoted follower of Christ. He went on to become one of the most influential apostles, spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles and writing much of the New Testament.

As we read Paul’s account, were reminded that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy. His new beginning illustrates how God can take even the worst mistakes and use them for His glory. I know as I read of Paul, it encourages me to never give up on God’s ability to change hearts-whether it’s our own or someone else’s. no matter how far someone has strayed, God’s grace is sufficient to offer a fresh start. Paul’s life is a testimony to the truth that God not only forgives but He also equips us for a new purpose in Him.

As we jump into this new year, some of us, I know I do, are seeking new beginnings. Were going to see how God’s Word offers hope and practical steps for starting fresh, no matter our circumstances. A new beginning often starts with recognizing the need for God’s guidance and embracing His grace, which makes all things new.

Number 1- Recognize your need for God. God is our source of true renewal.

Proverbs 3:5,6  says; “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Surrendering control and trusting God to lead allows Him to guide you toward His purpose. Take time to pray and ask God for direction, believing He will show you the next step. A couple of ways we can do this is to set aside time daily to pray and reflect on Scripture, asking God to reveal areas where you need renewal. Then write down specific areas of your life where you’re seeking a fresh start-relationships, career, spiritual growth, are just a few areas.

Then number 2- Embrace God’s forgiveness and grace.

New beginnings require leaving behind the weight of past mistakes or guilt. Isaiah 43:18 and 19 remind us, “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth.” God’s grace empowers us to let go of the past and to embrace His plans for the future. We need to confess our sins and struggles to God. I John 1:9 is a promise that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Take small, but intentional steps to let go of the past hurts. This means forgiving others, let go of that bitterness, ask others to forgive us our faults towards them.

3- Renew your minds.

True change begins with how we think. Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” A new beginning involves aligning our thoughts with God’s Word and allowing Him to reshape our perspective. Read passages of His Word that encourage hope and renewal; Psalm 51, Isaiah 40:31, there’s also Philippians 4:6-8.  Surround yourself with godly influences-attend those bible studies, join a prayer group,  and be with others who can encourage you in your walk with Christ.

Then number 4 I see we should Take small, faithful steps forward.

New beginnings don’t happen all at once; they involve daily choices to trust and obey God. Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Set realistic, God-honoring goals for areas where you need a fresh start. A few examples could include:

• be thankful in ALL things, and letting the Lord know.
• Talking to Him is so beneficial to us. commit to resolving conflicts biblically- Ephesians 4:32.
• Begin daily habits of speaking positively.
• Celebrate small victories over your life.

Number 5- Rely on God’s strength.

Fresh starts often feel overwhelming, like we need to feel even more overwhelmed- yikes- but God promises to provide the strength we need. Isaiah 40:31; “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” When we feel weak or discouraged, remind yourself of God’s promises. Memorize scriptures that can help; Philippians 4:13 comes to mind; “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

No matter where were starting from, God’s grace offers unlimited grace, strength, and opportunities for renewal. Matthew 6:33 reminds us “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” New beginnings require not just the desire to change but a wholehearted commitment to God. that true renewal comes when we prioritize God above all else-above our plans, our fears, and our past mistakes.  To have a  true lasting new beginning, we must anchor our life in Christ. Not a temporary change, but this must be a transformation that starts within and when we fully surrender to God’s will and walk in His ways.

Let’s decide today, that were going to fully let go of anything that might be holding us back, and lets commit to fully going forth with surrendering our life to His will and His plans for our lives. Let’s start this new year with a new desire and purpose to follow God’s plan, and a surrendered heart and determination to follow God wherever He leads.