Starting a new year is exciting. Getting a fresh start is even more so. But doing them both at the same time is exhilarating. And that’s available for all of us when we start the New Year with God. Because God specializes in giving fresh starts for his children. And what’s a better time to get a fresh start than the beginning of a New Year, right? So join me in starting fresh in the New Year. Right here, right now.

How to go about it, you ask. Well, it’s easy. We pray and ask God to forgive our messes and refresh us for a blessed new year. This is what God wants for us: to forgive our sins and open up a blessed future, all this in Jesus’ name.

We just need to know that starting fresh in the New Year – or any time – is only possible in Jesus’ name. Only Jesus can wipe our slates truly clean and bless our futures. This is sometimes hard for people to acknowledge and admit and submit to. We thrive to be self-made men and accomplished women. But that’s not how God’s kingdom works. God wants us to surrender to him and let him show us what he has prepared for each of us. .

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. (2 Cor. 5:17, AMP)

Starting fresh in the New Year is not scary when we do it with God. We are on solid ground when we stake our lives on Christ. Everything else but Jesus can be taken away from us this year. But when we have Jesus, we have everything we need. So no need to be afraid.

Looking at a brand new year is always exciting. But looking at a brand new year with Jesus is exhilarating. God has great plans for us and we don’t need to be afraid. We can live in joy, peace, and hope instead. What a great start for the New Year.

Gracious God,
Thank you for specializing in giving us fresh starts and second chances.
Forgive us for messing up our past, Lord.
We surrender to you our everything, our past, our present, our future.
May your will happen in our lives.
Show us how you want to live in this brand new year.
Pour out joy, peace, and hope in abundance
so we can leave fears and worries behind
Thanks for making starting fresh at a new year so intriguing.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Are you starting fresh in Jesus? Happy New Year to you!

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you are starting fresh with Jesus!

Photo by Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash.