His mercies are new every morning!

​His mercies are new every morning!
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” (Lam. 3:22-23) Have you ever been to a gym on the first day of a new year, or even on a Monday? If so, you will notice it’s a bit more crowded than other days? Why is that? It’s a new day, and everyone has a renewed sense of motivation and purpose. Psychologists have coined a term for these “do over” moments of inspiration. They call it the “fresh-start effect.” It centers in the notation that we all have a way of making progress toward our goals during transitional seasons, like going from an old year to a new one. In fact, even returning to our daily task after taking some needed time off from them can give us renewed energy and strength we didn’t have before.
From the story of creation to the final promises of a new heaven and earth, the Bible is full of encouragement stories to help us observe new beginnings. During some very dark days, even the weeping prophet Jeremiah could find hope, in the Lord’s mercies being renewed each morning in (Lam. 3:22-23). Saint Paul instructs us to forget what lies behind and to reach forward to what lies ahead (Phil. 3:13). Jesus often said things like, “I don’t condemn you for your past. Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). These verses and many others point to a needed, new beginning!  
The Lord is constantly providing us opportunities to begin with a fresh start in or lives. The ultimate fresh start being when He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins, to give us the gift of a new spiritual life. That has been the ultimate, “divine do-over” since the dawn of creation! And when we accept that fresh start gift of salvation, He makes us into new creations. “The old things pass away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17).
But the fresh start story doesn’t end there. As God’s new creations, we can and must, start each day by dying to our old selves and embracing the new opportunity to live in Christ (Rom. 12:1-2). Folks, at any moment, we can renew our minds by remembering what Christ has done for us and given to us. We can be freed from the burdens of yesterday and even today to embrace the newness of life God gives us. Do you need a fresh start with God? Let today be the Day of Reconciliation with your heavenly Father. Ask Him for forgiveness and thank Him for the gift of new life. Start reading His Word again and resolve to follow His will for your life! Remember friends, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psm. 118:24) His mercies…are new every morning!
Grace and peace always,
Fr. Greg