Thursday, January 7, 2021
But by the grace of God
I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even
more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10
"No one can go back and start a
new beginning,
but anyone can start today and make a new ending." (Unknown)
I saw this quote in a devotional
recently and really began to think about that statement. It basically says, “We don't start over; but
we begin again in a new place making things better in our lives.” When you think about it, that’s really
encouraging.
So often, we don’t want to return to
the scene of our failure because of the mess we know we will have to clean up
and the feeling of weakness that it reminds us of. Our best intentions were not enough to
accomplish our desired end. It may have
been getting back to school, or finishing a project. It could have involved starting a new
ministry or losing weight. Whatever it
was, there is that feeling inside us that we failed and trying again is one of
the last things we want to do.
But there on the page is that quote
from anonymous: "No one can go back
and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new
ending." There is a pull on our
hearts to believe this and get back into the challenge, but at the same time
the sense of futility we felt in our failure is yanking us back to safety.
When you think about it, you really
can’t start a new beginning. We are
different than when we started the first time, the circumstances are different
and the lessons we learned from when we tried before all create a new place for
us to start. How many times did those
who achieved great endings in life fail before they succeeded at their goal? History books are filled with the stories of
average people who achieved great things because they refused to quit. Where the majority of people would step aside
these individuals persevered. Sometimes
all they had was a dream or a vision driving them forward. Even those around them ceased to encourage them
and failed to see their potential.
Do you want a new ending this year?
How do you want the ending of your life? If you're not a Christian, please know that
this could be the best New Year of your life. Your life can be filled with a new strength
and power. Anyone knows that new
relationships can really change our lives and no relationship can make as great
a difference as one with God through Jesus Christ. Maybe you have tried before to behave like a
Christian and failed. Maybe today you
can start at a new place and BECOME a believer and let God begin His work in
you.
If you are a Christian and you feel
stagnate in your relationship with the Lord, then now is the time to rekindle the
flame of faith within. Christ calls us not
back to the church but to Himself. Can
you hear Him? He is tugging at your
heart. Can’t you start today by opening
your Bible and listening to His words?
Wouldn’t it be great to start writing a new ending to your life?
Satan loves to remind us of all of
our inadequacies and failures to deprive us of the joy and blessing God wants
to bring by using us for His purpose.
Maybe you did fall short of your goal.
Maybe you didn’t see things through.
One thing is for sure...you are not who you were or where you were
before because, "No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can
start today and make a new ending."
Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away;
behold, new things have come. 2
Corinthians 5:17
