It’s a new year, and out come the journals with the resolutions full of hope and determination that this year will be better than the last! “This year, I will work out regularly, eat better, and lose weight!” “From now on, I will prioritize my family time over every other commitment in my life.” “This year, I will absolutely, no excuses, read my Bible every single day!” However, remember that whether you stick to any new commitment or not, God Himself is doing new things in your life, and His mercies are new every morning of the year.
It doesn’t have to be January 1st for something new to begin in your life. In fact, the Word of God contains promises regarding new things that can be applied to every single day, not just at the beginning of a new year.
His Mercies are New Every Morning
One thing the Lord promised us in His Word was that His mercies are new every single morning!
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV
The love God has for you is so unwavering, there is nothing you can do (or fail to do) to cause His love for you to fail! His mercies are new every single morning. This is true whether you lived your day the way you planned or not. He is faithful, even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13).
Perhaps there is sin that you have been tempted with, that you are struggling to overcome. Making a “New Year’s Resolution” is great, but overcoming sin takes more than just a vow made in the flesh. You need to tap into the grace of God that enables you to walk in victory over sin!
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
– Philippians 2:13, NLT
Receive God’s grace that works in you and He will give you not only the desire to do what pleases Him each day, but the power to do so as well!
Forget the Past and Look to the Future
Paul taught us to forget the past and strive for the future.
“12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14
This is incredibly powerful for us to apply to our own lives. Imagine Paul’s position; now preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he had formerly murdered believers! Yet, Paul said that there was one thing he committed to doing: forgetting anything that had happened in the past, anything that he had done wrong or failed to do right, and moving forward into the future. This isn’t something that Paul did once a year; no, Paul had to make this commitment every single day.
Perhaps each day you need to remind yourself that His mercies toward you are new every morning. Maybe some days it’s something you have to remember every five minutes! Regardless, God’s mercy toward you is an endless flow that never runs dry.
He Makes All Things New
Maybe last year wasn’t the best year you’ve ever had. Maybe yesterday wasn’t the best day you’ve ever had! It doesn’t matter, because the Lord’s mercies are new every morning, He makes all things new, and He is constantly doing new things.
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold I make all things new.'” – Revelation 21:5
“Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:19
Our God absolutely loves to make and do new things! Even when you were born again, He made you a brand-new creature: old things passed away and all things became new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Receive New Things By Faith
It doesn’t matter what sicknesses you may be battling, what behaviors you may feel like you are struggling to change, what job you feel stuck in, or what relationships don’t seem to be going right. God can—and will—make these things new! Step out in faith and declare over yourself:
“This year is a new year, but today is also a new day! I am forgetting the past and pressing on toward the wonderful future God has planned for me. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning, and He is doing a new thing in my life today. God is making all things new! I expect to see Him doing these new things in my body, my heart, my mind, my life, my job, and my relationships. Lord, I thank You that I will know them, and they shall spring forth. I am excited to see the new things that You are doing today, and I thank You for them in advance, in Jesus’ name!”
The Violent Take It by Force
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
– Matthew 11:12
If you want to see the promises of God at work in your life, you must pursue them—violently! Learn how to expect and receive all of the new things God has for you this year.