(Reblogged from 12-30-13)
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 2016).
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!
(photo credit: www.news.health.com.)
From the Inside Out 
Thank you Nancy for wonderful inspiring words to begin a New Year. Your posts have been a source of strength through a year iof trails. Yes, God has been faithful & I believe used each one to draw us closer to Him. Anita
Praise God he has used these posts as a source of strength for you. I am humbled and oh so grateful! I pray that 2016 will be FILLED with blessings, joy, and laughter, dear friend. In my view, you and Gator are very deserving!!
I love this. Especially, “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).” Beautifully said, Nancy!
Thank you, Rebeca. Praise God for the ideas and words that touch other people’s hearts!
What a refreshing way to begin a new year! Thank you, Nancy. May God richly bless you and Steve with good health and much happiness in the coming year. Love you both. Ruth
Thank you, Ruth. 2016 will be much different for you than years past, but I pray the same for you: delightful blessings to keep you smiling, good health to enjoy family and friends, and many happy occasions that add joy and laughter to your days. Love, Nancy (and Steve)
Thanks, Nancy. Your words are as true this year as they were when you first blogged them … thank you for always pointing us to our God whose truth will remain forever (and with whom there is no variations due to shadow or change 🙂 … James)… wishing you a blessed 2016, dear blogging friend
Thank you, Heidi, for your encouragement. Interesting that you should refer to James 1:17. It’s one of my go-to scriptures! May you also enjoy a blessed 2016!
Thank you for your blog. I shared it on Facebook. It’s a blessing.
Thank you, Nikki, for sharing my posts on Facebook. I praise God that he uses this blog to bless others!
I was just thinking yesterday what a blessing it is that we who belong to Christ can start over each day with resolve to do better. I am also so very grateful for the glorious gift that He forgives our failures and sins and FORGETS them! It is I who chooses to let my failures drag me down…playing right into Satan’s plan to put any and all obstacles in the way of my growth in Christ. Once again, Nancy, impeccable timing on His part that you shared this blog at this particular time. He uses you to encourage me and remind me of all that it at my disposal as a child of the Lord. May you, Steve, and your loved ones have a Blessed 2016!
I marvel that these posts seem to speak so pointedly to the circumstances in your life, Cheri. All I can say is, “Praise God AGAIN!!”
So do I! It is so reassuring to watch the Lord working like this!
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Thank you, Bruce!