A New Day

by Charity Pence

This Week's Verse: "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14 (NKJ)

There was a time when I looked forward to New Year's.  I'd jot down my resolutions and then ring in the new year with family.  We'd bang pots and pans, cheer, have a toast for all the good to come.  The new year always held such potential.  Regardless of what occurred the prior year, I could smile and be joyful.  A new year brought a new day, new opportunities.

Each year, a bit of that excitement slips through my fingers as I'm reminded that one day doesn't change anything.  Not really.  On New Year's Eve, when the clock strikes midnight, there's no magic wand that waves away our struggles.  And, thankfully, our blessings are not waved away, either.  Instead, life goes on in one continuous loop that seems to speed up and never slows down.  And you know what I recently realized? I don't mind.  Okay, I wouldn't mind if time slowed, but I don't mind that time occurs in a continuous cycle. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." (NKJ)  The point is, there really is a time for everything.  Seasons change, circumstances change.  And it all happens in God's time.  So rather than see January 1st as a new day for change, I try to appreciate each and every day because every day has potential for change.  When life gets tough, I accept struggles as lessons for patience (although not always gracefully), knowing that the trial will pass.  I try to focus on the blessings because they don't end when the year ends.

In the midst of the holiday season, it's easy to get caught up in the idea of a new year.  But every day is a new day.  And even more amazing, God's right there with us.  He will hold our hand, wipe our tears, laugh with us, hold us up.  Whatever we need, every day of the year, we can count on God to provide. 

So don't focus so much on January 1st.  Every day is a new day, and God is with us to celebrate.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for reminding me I don't need a new year to see Your glory.  I don't need to wait until next year to find joy.  Instead of focusing on a new year, help us to look upon each day as we do the new year.  Every day holds promise; every day You are there.  Thank You, Lord.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Power Verses:
Psalm 16:1 "Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust." (NKJ)
Isaiah 55:6 "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." (NKJ)