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Time for a Fresh Start

Daily Devotional – Friday, January 1, 2021

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Phew! Last year is done and dusted. One can almost hear the unanimous sigh of relief from the earth and its inhabitants. Never before in recent history has a calendar year been so packed with sorrow, pain, and death. COVID-19 has devastated the world. Even if you have never contracted the disease, you are affected by its catastrophic impact on the economy, livelihoods, and social and religious life.

Not to forget that all other ‘normal’ challenges and problems are still with us. Global warming, floods, famine, earthquakes, civil wars, corruption, unemployment, social injustice, and a litany of other natural and man-made misfortunes continue to bedevil the world. Seemingly, it is all gloomy and cloudy, or is it?

It is human to expect things to get worse. It is divine to adopt an attitude of gratitude and to see God on the other side of every problem. As Jeremiah reminds us, “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22–23). NIV

It could have been worse, but God carried you through. You are alive and (most likely) healthy today because of God’s mercies. It is now time to have a paradigm shift: turn to the God whose compassions are new every morning. Trust Him to carry you through every day of the New Year.

As the key text for today urges, embrace the gift of forgetfulness. Do not dwell on it. God calls on you to open your spiritual eyes and see that He is creating a new thing for you this New Year! Will you perceive it when it springs up? He is the God who will make a way for you in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland of last year. Praise be to Him!

Happy New Year, and welcome to Daily Family Devotions, your home of daily, nourishing spiritual nuggets.

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Steve kariuki

God bless you for this devotion. It’s encouraging especially when we reflect year 2020.

Erastus Theuri

Indeed, it is good to have a new beginning. Amen

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