Someone Understands ... And Cares: God Knows You and Loves You
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Scripture
“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
Thoughts for the Day
We all have setbacks and disappointments . . . and may need a fresh start. For some a fresh start means building a new foundation and life in Christ because of a destructive and disruptive past. A fresh start may mean a husband who needs more empathy and understanding to be more in tune with his wife's past setbacks. Without his help, the wife's pain could eventually spill over into the entire family system.
Those of us who were wounded in our childhood drag into marriage the same sack of problems and pain we carried as single adults. We may have been able to hide the baggage long enough to distract our spouse from noticing its size or power, but soon our wounds surface in our new marriage. (Paul Hegstrom, Broken Children, Grown-Up Pain, 87-88)
Whether we need to start over or just make an adjustment, the Lord wants to provide us with a fresh start no matter what the setback or disappointment or how long we have suffered from the pain.
Consider This . . .
Do you need to make a fresh start? Your need may have been caused by something that happened years ago or just recently. It may involve a relationship, a lifestyle, a habit, a failure, abuse by someone . . . or any of a multitude of issues. Whatever the problem—and whether it began recently or years ago—Jesus wants to help you.
"Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6 NLT
We must remember that making a fresh start is a process. A fresh start always involves trusting Jesus and walking with him.
The apostle Paul said it this way:
"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:13 NLT
Only through him can we find the strength and guidance to walk the process. With him, we can do all things. The process of making a fresh start can be a bumpy road.
But with Jesus, you can do it.
Prayer
Father, help me make right choices. Help me choose doing what is right over what is easy. Help me choose to please you rather than others.
In Jesus' name . . .
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
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