Lamentations 3:22-23

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.

As the New Year starts, we often feel a spirit of lightheartedness or that a weight has been lifted. Things feel new, and possibilities feel fresh. Many of us make New Year's Resolutions. For myself personally, last year I had five and I went five-for-five (that is, on ones I didn't accomplish). Yet this year, as I sat down to write a couple, I'm hopeful and expectant that they will be accomplished.

I just marvelled at how different things were on the first day back to work in the "New Year" compared to the last days of work in the old. Nothing actually "changed". The same work is still there, with the same hours, tasks, people, computer systems, and pay. But because my attitude had changed, everything seemed different.

It's remarkable what effect something simply being "new" can have on us. A "new" year means we'll do better at fending off our old habits (even if we haven't in the past year). "New" clothes make us feel pretty, even though we are the same person as before.

The "New" year is a pretty good feeling. The high that it brings and the optimism is something that is unmatched during the rest of the year. We live more resolutely, more purposefully, and more conscious of our time and our habits.

God's word says His compassions are NEW every morning.

Yesterday you messed up? Well, don't dwell on it. Put that failure aside and start again at it new, with God's help. Let His compassion cover over whatever it is you've done yesterday or in the past, and open your eyes to look for what He has for you today.

God has new compassion for us every day. Because of Him, we can have that high that comes with the "new" year every day. This year, don't live the first couple of weeks like it's new and then the rest like it's the same old drudgery. Keep that optimism and hopefulness of the new year throughout the whole year. And refresh it every morning by remembering this "THIS is the day that the Lord has made"...and that His compassion for you this morning is the same in intensity as it was yesterday, no matter what you've done. But it's not the SAME compassion...it's brand new compassion, just for today!

Happy New Year!
(And a Happy New Day!)

Challenge for Today: Consider the compassion God has for you. Not the compassion God "has had on you" in the past...but the compassion He has for you today. For just a few minutes, consider thoughtfully and deliberately what we all learned in a song as children: "Jesus loves me." And then keep that thought with you for the rest of the day from time to time.