A new year requires a new calendar. Don’t you just love the crisp, uncurled pages–the empty spaces for each day, filled with nothing but optimistic possibilities?
Perhaps you’re starting the new year with a fresh journal. Again, the pristine pages are filled with nothing but hope and expectation.
We might also desire to start the new year with:
- New eyes—to see the glory of God around us
- New ears—to hear his still, small voice.
- New resolve—to follow God’s direction.
- New courage—to speak his truth boldly.
- New faith—to live with confident trust in our Heavenly Father.
These abilities cannot be bought at Barnes & Nobles, like a calendar or journal. They are procured through prayer and discipline.
A good place to begin? David’s prayer in Psalm 51: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me…Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:10, 12).
Allow me to personalize it a bit.
Create in me a pure heart, O God (just as you created a perfect universe from chaos).
And renew a steadfast spirit within me (that my greatest desire might be to please you).
Restore to me the joy of your salvation (just as we experience in the euphoria of Christmas Eve)!
Grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (throughout 2014).
The typical new year’s resolution is made, broken, and forgotten. Rarely does someone make a once-a-year promise and keep it faithfully for the next 364 days.
Perhaps we’d be wise to see each new day as a fresh opportunity for beginning anew. To repent of yesterday’s failures and forget them. To strain toward what is ahead—with enthusiasm, expectation, and hope (Philippians 3:13).
And gradually those new abilities we aspire after, will begin to flourish.
God says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18-19a)!
* * * * * * * * * *
Thank you, Father, for your mercy to forgive the past, and your grace to provide for the future. Thank you that each morning is a fresh start, and each new day holds hidden opportunities. With great anticipation I turn the page!
From the Inside Out 
Thank you, Nancy. That is a wonderful message on which to begin the New Year. I hope 2014 will be a year of peace, joy and good health for both you and Pastor Steve.
Thank you, Ruth. I greatly appreciate your New Year blessing!
Oh, this so speaks to me … I already got the new journal and just bought my new calendar … looking forward to the pages filling with the unimaginable and miraculous … Thanks for this today, Nancy!
You’re welcome, Heidi. I, too, look forward to the wonders God has already planned for 2014!
Nancy I just love new calendars too. I get excited to buy one, fill it in and make it come alive. Thank you for taking that lovely verse and personalizing it. wonderful message.
now a blog question. since I am new to wordpress and I see you have a blogs I follow on your sidebar. What are you using for that? I want to add one back to mine but most seem complex. I like the simplicity of yours.
Thank you, Jean!
To manage “Blogs I Follow” go to Dashboard. Click on “Blogs I Follow.” On the next screen, click on “WordPress.com Reader.” You’ll be on the page to set up your list. Hope that answers your question!
I’ve been avoiding my new calendar–when I sit down tomorrow to pencil in all of our activities it will instantly be full. Sigh. Thank goodness our Lord’s mercies are new every morning, and His strength is always sufficient, yes? Lovely post, Nancy. I needed a little reset on my focus–thank you!
God bless you, Rebeca, as you seek his priorities and strength. It surely makes him smile when you look to him to supply your needs!
A blank page for a new year…all because Jesus died for my sins, forgiving me each day…allowing a blank page, much better than a ‘do-over’! Your posts, Nancy, inspire me and allow the Holy Spirit to renew me! Thank you so much for this your 2013 blog!
Oh, yes–new mercies every morning, as Rebeca noted. And you make a good point, Cheri. A fresh start is much better than a do-over! I am honored you’ve been inspired and renewed by this year’s posts. Looking forward to more moments together on the blog in 2014!
Great New Year’s post, Nancy!
I love that verse and am claiming it for 2014.
Happy New Year!
What an honor to present a verse you can claim for 2014!
Happy New Year to you, too, Bill.