Dear one,
Breathe.
Breathe in deep.
Today is a new day.
As the day comes to a close, or your day is in progress, may I offer this reminder? You are deeply loved, highly valuable and uniquely positioned by an all-knowing God to live the life prepared for you.
Regardless of how your days have ended, or how you expect the days ahead to be, God’s plans are always in process. Remember this.
No matter what time of year it is, new things lay on the horizon. It can feel scary and defeating if circumstances dictate the way we see our days. Do you see them as too hard or too painful to approach?
As we look back to the days behind us, we notice things that are true and factual, like events, trials, successes, changes, and even how things did or did not go the way we planned. But each fact is just that, a fact. It is what it is or was what it was.
Today, we have an opportunity to choose how we view those facts and how we’ll remember the past.
We look ahead with hope to a brighter future. We look behind with hope in our hearts and may find that even when things didn’t seem so bright, God was working and He was there.
Sometimes I have a hard time believing, so I return to the truths of God’s word in the scriptures which recount God’s faithfulness over and over again, even to an incredibly faithless people. Like me.
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:8-10
In Hebrews 11, referred to as the Hall of Faith, we actions done “by faith” in individual after individual . I find this list a challenging but encouraging reminder of a God who works His plans out faithfully even though we may or may not see the results in our lifetime. Many of God’s faithful people did not see the fruits of their labors, but God knew and commended them for it.
Take faithful steps forward and entrust the path, the destination, and the results to God. It’s hard, but doable. When we fall, we are given what we need to get back up.
May we be encouraged today, and every day, to keep walking and to keep believing in His plans over our own. His good plans always supersede our feeble attempts. I’ve learned the hard way. Mine lead to less peace. His lead increase true peace.
Look ahead with excitement for new expectations and better days. Remember our hope is found in Christ and not our circumstances.
Great blessings come in knowing He provides new mercies each day.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-24
God provides strength upon strength {Psalm 84}. He gives grace when needed.
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ~ James 4:6
We have great hope each and every day, because Jesus is our Hope personified. He is faithful and eternal.
Now, go forth boldly and humbly today with your God who is always faithful. Regardless of how your years have gone, remember that every day is a new day.
CULTIVATE: How will you choose to see today and tomorrow as a new day with new mercies? What will you do with it?
