Welcome 2021 Be Thankful for a New Year

Newness is a concept the Bible is full of, newness of self, of life and of time. We are stepping into a new year, which is already shown us this week is full of new challenges, new leadership and new struggles. But we don’t have to focus on the negative. We can focus on the positive of the gift God has given us all in a new year. Lamentations 3:19 -23 reminds us that his mercies are new every morning. Everyday we get a fresh start to begin again.

“Remember (O Lord) my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall (bitterness). My soul continually remembers them and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, therefore I have hope. It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindness that we are not consumed, Because of his tender compassions never fail. They are new every morning, Great and beyond measure is your faithfullness.”

Lets unpack these verses for a minute. The writer of Lamentations, Jeremiah, says he is afflicted with wormwood and gall, bitterness. I know when I struggle with depression and hardship it is so tempting to become bitter. To dwell in the past and let my heart become hard. Jeremiah admits that “his soul remembers them. Just like us these thoughts are swirling around in his mind. But Jeremiah also says he bows his soul down with him. He surrenders his bitterness to the Lord and the Lord gives him hope. He states that because of the Lord’s loving kindness He is not consumed by his thoughts. He does not become hopeless.

I know for many of us, on both sides of the political gambit it’s easy to look around at last week and become hopeless. My heart has grieved heavily for the state of our country this past week. But I can lay that down, let go of the extra anxiety and lay it at Jesus’s feet in prayer and start each day afresh. My mind does not need to dwell on it or the other struggles I may have the past day. I have hope that this next day will be better. That I can begin again and make the best out of it. I can have hope and be thankful for the gift a new day is.

Below is a song I wrote on April 28, 2020 about God’s mercies. I hope you enjoy. You can hear the song here https://youtu.be/BX4eh5faubk.

Your Mercies are new every morning

Let your mercy fall on me

So much pain and fear surround me

Keep me hidden in your wings

Humbled in your presence

 I want to stay with you

So let your Mercy fall on me,

Fall on me

Your Mercies are new every morning

Pour your mercy on me

Your mercies are new every morning

Pour your mercy on me

Your rest is there in the evening

Let your rest abide in me

But Worldly things pull at every side

Let your rest abide in me

Like a child I want your hand Lord

Like a sheep I want a guide

So let your mercy fall on me, Lord

Like rain, Let your mercy fall on me

Your Mercies are new every morning

Pour your mercy on me

Your Mercies are new every morning

Pour your mercy on me