The ultimate fresh start

I love having a fresh start. I love starting the work week on Monday morning after beginning the week with a refreshing Sabbath. I enjoy beginning new months and new seasons. I love going to bed at night knowing that, should the Lord continue to sustain my life, I will have a fresh start in the morning. And, I love starting a new year.

So often, I fail. I waste time. I snap at my children. I nag my husband. I burn the biscuits. I add too much liquid to bread dough and don't realize it until the rise cycle in the bread maker is done. While most days in my life gratefully go reasonably well, some days are just plain bad. Fallen, sinful creature that I am, I really do thrive on new beginnings--there's something so refreshingly splendid about having a clean slate to work with.

²³And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
²⁴For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
²⁵Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
²⁶A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
²⁷And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
~Ezekiel 36:23-27

Once upon a time, I was in rebellion against God. I always claimed to love Him, but my actions proved the opposite to be true: I hated Him. Inspite of myself, God graciously saved me, through faith in the work of Christ. He cleansed my filthiness and cut down my idols. He changed the desires of my heart so that I wanted to obey His law.

Salvation is the ultimate new beginning. From Hell to heaven, darkness to light. From hateful rebellion against God to loving submission. The Lord saved me about 8 1/2 years ago.

Since then, I've fallen more times than I can count. I fail in my obedience every day. But,

²²It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
~Lamentations 3:22-23

Like I said, I love having a fresh start. All around us, folks are talking about the beginning of a new year. They are full of hope as they write lists of resolutions. They want to change. They want a new beginning.

As you all consider the beginning of a new year, I want to encourage you all to examine yourselves.

Has your soul experienced the fresh start of salvation? If not, don't delay in repenting and believing the gospel of Christ, Who is indeed powerful and mighty to save. Are you serving the Lord faithfully with your life? If you are, consider what you can do to serve Him better, by His grace. If not, why?

Happy New Year to you all. I truly hope 2012 is your most fruitful and blessed year yet.