{"id":3001,"date":"2015-08-23T09:00:04","date_gmt":"2015-08-23T14:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3001"},"modified":"2015-08-10T17:09:24","modified_gmt":"2015-08-10T22:09:24","slug":"choose-to-begin-anew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3001","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Begin Anew"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Year of Choices…<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren from Barbara\u2019s Banter at www.barbdahlgren.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Begin<\/a><\/p>\n

Every day is a new beginning.\u00a0 In other words, today is the first day of the rest of your life, don\u2019t screw it up.\u00a0 Each day is a new day to practice making wise choices.<\/p>\n

Many wait until a new year comes to make resolutions.\u00a0 But it\u2019s actually day to day living that eventually helps us live better lives year to year.\u00a0 However, day to day living cannot fully rely on our resolve because our resolve just isn\u2019t good enough.\u00a0 God in his infinite wisdom knows we need extra help living our daily lives and fortunately He provides it.<\/p>\n

Sometimes life is so burdensome that it\u2019s hard not to get discouraged.\u00a0 But God tells us not to lose heart.\u00a0 Things may not appear to be going so well, but \u201c\u2026inwardly we are being renewed day by day.\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:16)\u00a0 Re-new means to make new again.<\/p>\n

Each day is a new day.\u00a0 Each day is an opportunity to renew our resolve.\u00a0 When we fall, we get up and face a new day.\u00a0 Each day we take up our cross and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23)\u00a0 God gives us what we need to make it through each day\u2026our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paul said he died daily. (1 Corinthians 15:31) \u00a0He recommitted to the sacrifice Jesus made for Him daily.\u00a0 God\u2019s mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:23)<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026 Each day we put off our old self and put on our new self. (Ephesians 4:22-24)\u00a0 And we keep putting it on day after day after day after day.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a one-time deal.<\/p>\n

\"Put<\/a><\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n