Choices change lives…
By Barbara Dahlgren
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. That’s not a bad idea. 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 2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us, “…inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Re-new means to make new again.
Each day is a new day. Each day is an opportunity to renew our resolve. This is important to keep in mind when those New Year’s resolutions don’t reap the results we hope for. It’s day-to-day living that helps us live better lives year to year.
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.
One final thought… Try repeating 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 start over again the next day. Nobody said that life would be easy.
