A Year of Choices…
By Barbara Dahlgren from Barbara’s Banter at www.barbdahlgren.com
Every day is a new beginning. In other words, today is the first day of the rest of your life, don’t screw it up. Each day is a new day to practice making wise choices.
Many wait until a new year comes to make resolutions. But it’s actually day to day living that eventually helps us live better lives year to year. However, day to day living cannot fully rely on our resolve because our resolve just isn’t good enough. God in his infinite wisdom knows we need extra help living our daily lives and fortunately He provides it.
Sometimes life is so burdensome that it’s hard not to get discouraged. But God tells us not to lose heart. Things may not appear to be going so well, but “…inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) Re-new means to make new again.
Each day is a new day. Each day is an opportunity to renew our resolve. When we fall, we get up and face a new day. Each day we take up our cross and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23) God gives us what we need to make it through each day…our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3) Paul said he died daily. (1 Corinthians 15:31) He recommitted to the sacrifice Jesus made for Him daily. God’s mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:23)
Consider this… Each day we put off our old self and put on our new self. (Ephesians 4:22-24) And we keep putting it on day after day after day after day. It’s not a one-time deal.
Suggestions for practicing this choice…
- We may come as we are to Christ, but we aren’t expected to stay that way. Each day is an opportunity to start over and make changes. Each day this week pick out one thing you would like to change in your life and work on it all day long. Perhaps it’s being honest, patient, polite, on time, positive, etc. Perhaps it’s controlling your temper, your tongue, your attitude, etc…
- When you get up say, “Hello, Lord! Help me be the person you would have me be today!”
- Don’t dwell in the past. Holding on to past failures distorts who you are now in Christ – a new person! God says not to remember the former things for He will do something new in you. (Isaiah 43:18-19) You can’t change the past but you can change your future starting today.
- Forgive yourself. God has forgiven you. (Psalm 103:12) I often think of Peter who denied Christ three times. The guilt he felt must have been enormous. Yet when Jesus revealed Himself to his disciples after his resurrection he specifically restored fellowship with Peter and let him know He had confidence in him by telling Peter to “feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) God has confidence in you!
- Repeat this at the beginning of each new day: “Today is the first day of the rest of my life!” Then don’t screw it up. If you do, then repeat it again the next day. Nobody said that life would be easy.
