Fresh Start

Last night, I intended to spend much of the evening reading and studying my Bible. Instead, I spent much of it surfing the Internet, catching up on news stories and other people's blogs. There's not anything wrong with that, but my time could definitely have been spent better.

I was beating myself up a bit this morning about not following through on what I intended to do last night, when these verses came to mind:

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

How encouraging to be reminded that today is a fresh start. Just because I didn't do what I intended to do yesterday, that does not mean that today will be the same case. I don't know about you, but I often need that reminder, not only for times when I don't accomplish what I intend, but especially when I sin.

I doubt that any of us wake up each morning intending to fail or to sin. I usually pray during my commute to work, and a routine prayer is that I'd guard my words at work. I have every intention of speaking only words of joy and encouragement to my co-workers throughout the day. And yet it's probably safe to say that I have yet to make it through a single day without saying something sarcastic or complaining or engaging in gossip or saying something I just shouldn't say.

If I focus on how I screwed up at work, it would be very easy to convince myself that I'll never change, and why should I bother trying to watch what I say. But as Jeremiah said in Lamentations, the Lord's mercies are new every day. Indeed, every moment that we seek forgiveness, we are given a fresh start!

Do not be discouraged by what you did or didn't do yesterday. Rejoice and take heart in knowing that today is a fresh start for you!