A fresh start with God
As the calendar turns to January, a new year unfolds before us – a blank slate filled with possibilities. For many, this season inspires resolutions and renewed hopes for personal growth.
But while we strive to reset physically or emotionally, how often do we consider the opportunity for a fresh start spiritually? The new year isn’t just a time to chase goals; it’s an invitation to reconnect with God and allow Him to write a new chapter in our lives.
The Bible speaks powerfully about fresh beginnings. In Isaiah 43:18-19, the Lord says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
This passage reminds us that God specializes in renewal. He doesn’t just patch up broken lives, He transforms them. He leads us out of spiritual deserts and into places of flourishing. No matter what mistakes, failures, or regrets we carry, God invites us to step forward into the new work He is doing.
So, what does a fresh start with God look like for you? It begins with surrender. To experience the “new thing” God wants to do, we must let go of the “former things.” That could mean releasing guilt over past sins, letting go of bitterness, or giving up control over situations you can’t change.
No matter where you are in life, God’s mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). The same God who redeems and makes streams in the wilderness can work powerfully in your life, too. You are not defined by your past mistakes or failures. In Christ, you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
As you step into this new year, take time to reflect. What area of your life needs a fresh start? What “former things” do you need to leave behind so that you can embrace the new thing God wants to do?
God is calling you to trust Him, to let go of the past, and to move forward with hope. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience His renewal in 2025.
This week, find a quiet moment to ask God this question: “What new thing do You want to do in my life?” Write down what comes to your heart, pray over it, and take the first step in faith.
A fresh start with God is not just for the new year, it’s available every day. Will you answer His call?
Adam White is the senior pastor of New Beginning Assembly in Port St. Joe, and is Ordained through the Assemblies of God.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.