The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
There are times we need to edit our lives, just like editing a work of writing. My story is still being written, and I need to revise and redirect some run-ons. My story always needs revision, as in re-vision, adjusting my vision to God’s perspective. I need to sit down with God on the couch, and some serious junk food, with a pen and journal and look through the manuscript of my last week or month, and decide what needs taken out moving forward, or what might need to be rewritten by God’s grace. It’s a solid plan, junk food is admittedly optional. The beauty of these verses is that our story is always being revised. We are being made new over and over. Our ending is secure, our eternity is written, but each day on the journey holds the possibility of more Jesus, more freshness, and more peace.
One of my favorite quotes from one of my all-time favorite books speaks to my heart of this truth, “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it” Anne Shirley (L.M. Montgomery). The truth is that Jesus makes all things new, not just every day, but every minute. He is making me new by the power of His blood and there is so much freedom in that renewal. I don’t have to be me with all my sin and shame. I can put on the body of Christ and be made new (Romans 13:14). I don’t have to think my same old tired thoughts; I’ve been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I get His thoughts about me. God’s word is full of promises of newness. We don’t have to wait on a new job, a new friend, a new season, God makes all things new right now. He renews our mind so that our actions flow from the Truth and not our current circumstances.
“…to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the Spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV (italics mine)
Every morning, His mercies are new. If I am not renewing my mind in this truth every morning, I forget; I despair; and I let Satan deceive me into thinking things won’t change. And when I believe that lie, it sets the tone for my day. The beauty of the gospel is that it is the Good News. It’s every day’s news! The headline for my life is Jesus! All the stories fall under that headline every day. I need to get up and read that news every day so that my thoughts fall in line with the Truth. Not only does my day need to start with Truth, it’s also a reset button for every time my thoughts get forgetful. Wow do my thoughts get forgetful! Age is not on my side for this one, but the Holy Spirit is. “But the Helper, the Holy spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit can bring you to remember the things you have read in the Word, if you haven’t read it, it will be hard to remember, but as we commit to the Truth, the Holy Spirit guards our memory.
Every day has a restart button, every day, every minute holds the possibility for us to get in touch with the mind of Christ and God’s thoughts and plans. We can renew our minds with the Good News and suddenly everything is fresh and bathed in the newness of Christ.
Father, help me with re-vision. Help me see from your perspective, the Truth. Bring to mind the things I need to remember every day. Help me restart out of the Truth of Who I am in Christ and don’t let my heart be discouraged by failure, because I am going to fail again. When I do, remind me that your mercies are new as soon as I need them and let the Good News determine the headline for my day.
CHM Contributor Lauren Mitchell
