Today I start life anew.

Today.

Today I will live my life to the glory of God, for the sake of the gospel and the good of others. I will seek to live less today for myself.

Today.

I cannot change the past: my sins though many, my failures though frequent, or the many times I have hurt others,

But I can rest in the promise that the blood of Jesus has cleansed me, that though my sins are as scarlet, they have been made white as snow.

I cannot undo anything I have done. But I can rest in the grace of God, that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I can remember the work of God in salvation and will do so daily.

I can recall how God used a murderer who was a poor spokesman like Moses to set Your people free;

An insecure young man like Joshua to take Your people to the Promised Land;

A persecutor like Paul to spread the gospel across the Roman Empire,

And a fisherman who too often abused the use of language (how often am I like this one) like Peter and build Your church on disciples just like him.

I also cannot expect the things I have done for good and for God to do for today, but I can stand with Paul and forget the things behind me, choosing to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I cannot let the fear of past failures and my own sinful flesh keep me from living passionately for Jesus today.

Today I start life anew.

I cannot focus on the past, or let its shadow spread its darkness on the light He gives me to live this day. I cannot let any good thing I have done distract me from living this day as if it were my only, my best, my last day.

Today. Today I start life anew.

I cannot focus too much on the future, for I have little to no control over it. I can claim God’s Word with boldness that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it, that it is less about me and so much more about Him.

I can glance at the future as a driver glances ahead at the horizon ahead: too much focus there could bring harm at my present location, but no awareness of the horizon keeps me from seeing the amazing destination at the end.

But I have this day. Today.

Today I start life anew.

Today I will seek to live life for Jesus and for others.

Today I will redeem the time–I can earn more money and even make more friends, but I cannot reclaim the time that has gone by.

Today I will take care of the temple of flesh God has given me.

Today I will seek to be an encourager to my wife and my children first, and then to others God places in my path.

Today I will seek to speak much of the gospel to any who will hear.

Today I will walk by faith not by sight.

Today I will advance the movement of God in my generation.

Today I will choose to love more than to be loved, to give more than receive.

And whether I do this today will be seen not in the words I write but in the life I live.

May it so be, Lord.

Today.