A New Day

You know that feeling that comes over you when you realize you have blown it — again! Personal failure is hard to handle. Maybe you’ve tried to overcome some weakness in your life but each time you end up where you started — in failure. Doom and gloom drapes over you smothering all hope of success. Self loathing is no doubt something we have all battled with at some time in our lives; some more than others.

When I find myself sitting in the seat of failure, I make myself think about Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT), The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness, His mercies begin afresh each morning. Look closely at each phrase. His love never ends. His mercies never cease. His mercies start all over again each morning. Wow! Talk about hope for each new day.

Remember the incident when Peter denied he knew Jesus? (Matthew 26:69-75). Peter had been the all exuberant one. He publicly declared he would die for Jesus if necessary. Then, famously, he denied knowledge of Him when it counted most. Peter can be noted for life’s biggest blow-it moment in history! What an accolade, but wait! The story doesn’t end in Peter’s failure. By the grace of God, the story moves on to one of life’s greatest triumphs. Jesus forgave, renewed, and used mightily. Jesus took failure Peter and made Him courageous Peter.

Jesus had promised Peter and all His followers, that when He returned to His Father after His resurrection and ascension to Heaven, He would send the Holy Spirit to fill every believer. The Holy Spirit filled Peter. The Holy Spirit took failure Peter and transformed Him into an amazing and powerful courageous Peter. We read in Acts 2, when onlookers mistook the power of the Holy Spirit for mere drunkenness, that it was Peter who proclaimed the truths of Jesus and His resurrection. After that powerful, spirit-filled sermon, 3000 people came to Jesus (Acts 2:41).

It’s exciting to read what the Holy Spirit did for the old failure Peter. The Lord desires to take our failures, too, forgiving, showing mercy each morning; in other words, never ceasing to mold us into His image. However, there is an important thing to keep in mind. The Holy Spirit will fill us and guide us to do anything He plans in us, but we must do our part. Regarding Peter, the key to his success is found in Acts 2:14, Then Peter stepped forward. God does not make us robots. We must be obedient to receive all the wonderful blessings God has for us, and to be used mightily for His glory. W must choose to step forward as the Holy Spirit leads.

Our Father will forgive each day. He will make new each day. He will be merciful each day. We then live in the joy of His molding us into the image of Jesus. Therefore, rejoice, be thankful, and — step forward!