Today's Verse - 2 Corinthians 5:17

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

—2 Corinthians 5:17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We all like "do-overs" - you know, second chances that allow us to do things over, only better. God does much better than that for us through his gift of Jesus! He allows us to become new again. Being the "God of new things" (Isaiah 43:19), he can make us new, fresh! Beyond forgiveness, beyond cleansing, the LORD makes us holy and wholly new through Jesus. Let's use the opportunity of a New Year as our emotional springboard to live a fresh, new, and vibrant life for God. After all, the old year is gone, and the New Year has come! Let's live it for Jesus!

My Prayer...

O LORD, thank you for a New Year and a fresh start. Please give me wisdom and strength to serve you with integrity and faithfulness in this coming year. I pray that your work be done in my life as I offer myself, my plans, and my future to you. I pray this through Jesus, my intercessor and LORD. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - John 3:3

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

—John 3:3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"Fast away the old year passes..." But we can be new and fresh and clean in Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:17). Kingdom people are those who have been born fresh and new through the power of the Spirit and the grace of God ( John 3:3-7; Titus 3:3-7; John 1:11). So as we close out the old year, remember its good things and bad, achievements and failures, successes and disappointments, let's approach the New Year as Kingdom people. God's mercies are new every morning, and our lives can be made new every day by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Because we are the Father's born-again children, each sunrise offers us the opportunity to greet life as a gift. The Father's grace can rekindle our hope as the Holy Spirit makes us new, trusting in Jesus our LORD. Our God is the God of new things, and we will celebrate that today even though it is the theme of tomorrow!

My Prayer...

Heavenly Father, you are holy and righteous. I confess that, as hard as I have tried and as much as I have wanted to be righteous, without your grace and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, I know I will fail. Thank you for your forgiveness. Please make me new. As I stand on the threshold of a new year, please empower me beyond my weaknesses and besetting sins. Please open my eyes to your work in the world around me and use me in your work of grace in fresh ways. Fire my passion to live fully for your Kingdom and my King, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - John 1:12

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...

—John 1:12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Isn't it incredible that we are called children of God!? But that is precisely who we are (1 John 3:1-3): God's children! Our Father created the universe with its billions and billions of stars and planets. Our Father paints a new sunset every evening and chases away the darkness every single morning. Our Father not only loves us; he also claims us as his own and will bring us to his eternal home. Why? Because we heard God's message to us in Jesus. Because we received God's grace offered to us in his Son. Because we trust that God's grace is received and made real to us through our faith in Jesus. Incredible! Glorious! Grace! Adoption!

My Prayer...

Abba Father, thank you for claiming me as one of your children because of your grace and through my faith in Christ Jesus. I praise and thank you in his name. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.