Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
—John 3:3 (KJV)
"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 celebrat that today even though it is the theme of tomorrow!
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.
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—John 3:3 (KJV)
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 celebrat 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.
Continue reading...
