A new year means new opportunities, new resolutions, and new challenges. For some of us, a new year is just the continuation of the old year. This post is part of a series of short devotionals I [wrote] for Impactus | Promise Keepers Canada. Each reflection will focus on a particular Bible verse that has the word “new” in it. I hope it will encourage you and give you some helpful perspective as we launch in to a new year.
Lamentations 3:22-23: Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
Have you ever felt like you are just barely getting by in life? Maybe you have had a series of really difficult circumstances happen and you feel a deep sense of discouragement or depression. This is the context of Lamentations 3. Jeremiah thinks about the painful afflictions in his life and it makes him feel depressed.
In the midst of this despair, Jeremiah calls us to remember the greatness of God’s love. Mercies that are never ending are a picture of the constant and abiding favour of God towards you. God’s presence in your life is not dictated by the circumstances of your life. He is with you – always. Next, Jeremiah makes a startling claim – God’s mercies are new every day!
Think about this. God will give you mercies that are not the same as what He gave you yesterday or what He will give you tomorrow. They are new – for today. Each day, you will have new challenges or difficult circumstances and God wants to reveal His constant and abiding favour towards you in the midst of those moments. Every day a new encounter with God is waiting for you.
As you go through your day, pay attention to the new mercies God is giving to you today. See how He is showing His faithful love and favour towards you. Now remember, this is what He is doing every day of this new year. God’s mercies on your life are not dependent on you noticing them. His mercies exist every day. But paying attention for those mercies will encourage your soul and give you the right perspective as life comes at you this year.
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