A Prayer for a Fresh New Start
By Megan Evans
"The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning." - Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)
My least favorite chore is dusting, yet strangely I find it to be one of the most rewarding tasks of housekeeping. There is nothing like watching a trail of shine emerge as my cleaning rag cuts through layers of dust. The grime is wiped away and my shelves and countertops can breathe once again, and so can I. Like our homes, our hearts can build up layers of neglect as well. When we ignore our heart, our spirit begins to feel weary and burdened. Are you longing for renewal? Is there an area of your life that needs a breath of fresh air? A fresh new start? Praise be to God! In place of our own labor and striving, we need only to bow our hearts today.
Daily tasks, jobs, and roles can regularly leave us feeling depleted and run down. In addition, our stubborn human hearts often deter us from dealing with sin, conflict, and emotion. Besides that, we are finite beings and simply run out of our own meager supply of goodness. Left to ourselves, we are going to fall short every single time.
It is in these moments that we need a fresh new start, and this renewal is found in Christ alone. As dust clings to cloth, we too, can hold tightly to God’s promises. Lord, help me to trust You daily.
God does not give up on us, and His mercies begin afresh each morning. What does this mean? It means that God’s love is steadfast and gracious. It means that when we repent, He always forgives (1 John 1:9). When we pray, He hears and answers us according to His perfect will (1 John 5:14). When we cry out, He promises to be our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1) and His peace comforts us in our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3).
God’s mercies never cease, and neither does His love. Unceasing love can be hard to grasp in a world where humans break promises and break hearts. In contrast, God’s love is a perfect faithful love that is unmovable and unending. We can count on God to forgive us, take care of us, and help us, not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. We experience mercy not because of who we are, but because of who God is! Thank you, Lord!
Lamentations is thought to be written by Jeremiah as he reflected upon the Babylonian exile. The Israelites blew it big time over and over again, yet God still loved them and kept His promise of salvation and redemption. Over and over God gave them a fresh new start. They didn’t deserve it, and neither do we. Yet every day, hour, and moment we too can experience God’s faithfulness. Don’t let weariness build up; ask God to fill you with fresh new life right then and there. Help me, Lord!
Are you called to respond to a difficult client today? Ask God for His kindness. As a caretaker, are you struggling to meet endless needs? Ask God for His compassion. Are you fighting an illness? Ask God for His strength. The list goes on and on. We need the infinite measure of God’s might and power at work in us every single day, and He promises to give this in abundance.
Let’s Pray:
Father God, thank you for your love and mercy. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me walk as Your Son Jesus did while I am here on this earth. I want to show love and kindness. I want to be patient and gentle. I want to forgive and help others. I want to live obedient to You. Yet, how quickly I reach the end of my own supply.
Forgive me and lead me into a fresh new start today. You alone know the needs of my heart and where I am struggling. Your mercies are steadfast, and so I surrender every hurt, conflict, and struggle today.
Cleanse and renew my heart today. Moment by moment, fill me with fresh new strength to act and respond in ways that are pleasing to You. Equip me to go forth and carry out the tasks You set before me with Your grace and Your strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/HAKINMHAN
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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