All Things New

 

There are not many more spectacular sights than that of a sunrise. The visual itself is stunning. The emotional effect is more often encouraging than disheartening. With the sunrise comes the morning. Morning represents new. Regardless of how dark, cold, or difficult the night may have been, the morning is coming. With it comes opportunity. Other than its meaning of "the beginning of day; dawn," the additional meaning of morning is "the first or early period of anything; beginning." No matter where we are in life and how long it's felt like night, our morning can be at any point. Sunrise will happen. Thus, we have a new beginning.

It's hard to believe another year has ended. So many things transpired in 2022. The world has changed dramatically from life-altering events. Allowing our minds to reflect on the year will perhaps bring some smiles, and also some tears. Whether we choose to accept it or not, the ending of one is the beginning of the next.

The thought process for so many throughout our world is a new year means a new beginning. Most New Year's resolutions fail because the focus is on ourselves. Though that's what the majority of resolutions are about, we typically don't like to ask for help or we feel we are strong enough to accomplish everything on our own. I have found that depending on myself, my own strength, is never enough. I always fail within myself; always. I need daily spiritual strength to face a new year, a new month, a new week, a new day, and even a new moment. For those who believe in God, a Q & A was given in song form thousands of years ago that is forever relevant to life on earth in Psalms 121:1, "From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

With that encouragement, we can awaken every morning realizing it's a new beginning. No matter what the previous year, day, or long night may have presented us, it's morning - a new beginning.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies (goodness, kindness) never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3: 22-23)

You may have disappointment in the previous circumstances, your reactions, attitude, or perspective. Perhaps you feel nothing can or will change for the better in this new year. Start with each morning, day by day, and don't rely on yourself. We all need the one who made the day. As we step into the new year, focus on the morning. The Lord wants to walk through each one with each one of us. Look for the sunrise - hope, peace, opportunity, success, joy, and abundance. It may be covered from temporary sight by cloudiness and the environment. But, nothing stops it. It's there regardless. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; 

behold the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Happy All Things New Year!