A FRESH START

“If anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP).

All of us have done wrong things. Are you thinking of something right now that you’re sorry you did? Do you wish you could undo it and start over again? You can’t undo what’s been done but you can have a fresh start.

If you’ve been feeling unmotivated, uninspired, or otherwise ready for change, a fresh start may be exactly what you need. Maybe a fresh start will help you transition into healthier habits. Maybe you need a new direction, a new set of goals. Or maybe you just need a new starting point. Maybe you’re in the same boat regarding your spiritual life.  You need some spiritual spring cleaning. You don’t feel as close to God as you would like, and you don’t seem to be enjoying the full Christian life that God has given us to enjoy. The solution may be a reset, reboot, or starting fresh.

God’s Word is filled with examples of people given a fresh start. Abraham doubted God’s promise and took life into his own hands but was given a fresh start, a new beginning. David committed adultery and murder but was given a fresh start and new beginnings. Jonah ran from God and was given a fresh start and a new beginning. Peter denied Christ and was given a fresh start and new beginnings. Paul persecuted the church but was given a fresh start. And each one of us is offered that fresh start and new beginnings.

Wouldn’t that be great—to start all over again? When we look back on life and see some of the mistakes we made and some of the things we did that we have come to regret, it would be great to start over. But for all practical purposes, we can do so because we serve a God who gives us second chances.

Maybe you have made some serious mistakes this year. Maybe you feel you have gone too far, done too much, given up, and think there is no possibility that God would ever give you a second chance. That is not true. God does give second chances. You can have a fresh start today.

No matter how many times we fall down in life, if we continue to get back up, eventually, we’ll get to where we need to be. God will lead us to the best life we can possibly have, but first, we must let go of our past mistakes.

Jesus offers a fresh start each day. Isaiah 43: 18 says, “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.” God is telling us to forget about what’s happened before because the book is closed on it. God is far more interested in our future than in our past.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you need a fresh start?
2. What changes would you like to make in a fresh start?