Today's Devotional Thought
September 07, 2010 by Rachel Piferi
Fresh Start
While some students have already gone back to school, today is the first day of school for many of our children. Do you remember the first day of school when you were a child? The new school year always included new clothes, new shoes, meeting new teachers, and such excitement over seeing your friends again after a long summer off. Whether it be remembering my own years in elementary school, high school, or college, I still see the Fall as a time for new beginnings and for a fresh start.
Is there something in your life that needs a fresh start?
When I think of fresh starts in the Bible, I instantly think of Noah. When we look at the story of Noah, you see very clearly God making a fresh start with His creation. He saved what was good and righteous in the world and He destroyed the rest. And with the good and righteous piece of His creation, He rebuilt the world.
As you think of the areas of your life, can you think of a part of you that could use a fresh start today? God promises us a fresh start in Him. And, He can help renew any part of us that needs renewal. We need only to ask Him to help us destroy the old and rebuild a new. But, what we must all realize is that sometimes our fresh start will require quite a bit of destruction of the old. And friends, that destruction can be very painful. But, enduring the pain of destruction will be worth it when you see the rainbow above a renewed self.
As a new school year starts, I encourage you to examine your life. Examine your priorities. Examine your relationships. Examine your daily schedule. Examine your daily prayer and devotion life. And make a commitment to refreshing one of those areas. Maybe, as you examine your life, you are in need of a big renewal and it will require some destruction of old habits, ways of life, or even your circumstances. And just maybe, you need to spend some time building your ark, some more time inside of your ark as your old life is destroyed, and then some time as you exit your ark to a new life where you can be fruitful and multiply.
Change always takes time. But, God can strengthen you, equip you, and help you as you strive for your new beginning. Ask Him to help you today. Ask Him to help you identify the areas of your life that need renewal and then ask Him to help you as you destroy the old and rebuild the new life that He has for you. Refresh and renew an area of your life today.
December