Happy New Year! A Fresh Beginning

Editors Note: This is an excerpt from Being Still with God Every Day. In this 366-day devotional, each day features a scripture and a short, meaningful devotion to set minds and hearts on practical, godly living every day of the year.

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth… I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:19

God uses events in our lives to shape us, to teach us, to grow us — and some of the key events are those sparked by sin (our own or someone sinning against us), by our missteps, by our confusion. Memories of the past, therefore, can too easily feel like shackles holding us to failures, regrets, ignorance, foolishness, and sin.

However, God doesn’t want us bound to our past.

When God saves us from the death we deserve for our sin, He frees us from the guilt and shame of our former life as well. He gives us a fresh beginning. He frees us to receive every good thing He wants to give us.

If your past feels like a wilderness, know that God wants to make a road through it, perhaps to help you navigate the difficult years and salvage the good. If your past feels like a desertland of death, know that God will make rivers of redemption flow as He brings beauty out of ashes.

Embrace the fresh beginning God wants to give you.

Excerpted with permission from Being Still With God Every Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby, copyright Thomas Nelson, 2014.

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Your Turn

Today is a beautiful day to embrace the Lord’s fresh mercies for your life! Lamentations 3:22-23 says Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Welcome 2015! Come join the conversation on our blog! We’d love to hear your thoughts on the new year! ~ Devotionals Daily

Happy New Year from all of us at Devotionals Daily!