Chaplain’s Column - The Fresh-Start Effect/Rebooting
Your Spiritual Walk
How
many of you have ever been to the gym on the beginning of the new year? You may
have noticed that it was a bit more crowded than usual. Whatever snacks one
indulged in—or 5:00 a.m. exercise classes were missed—they are long forgotten.
It’s a new day, and everyone has a bolstered sense of motivation and purpose.
I can remember a term coined by
Psychologists and I believe the term for this and other similar moments of
inspiration was called the “fresh-start effect” or others may have called it
the “get ’er done” moment. It’s the notation that we all have a way of making
progress toward our goals during transitional time periods, like from an old
year to a new one. Even simply returning to a task after taking time off from
it can give us renewed energy to do what we couldn’t seem to muster the
strength to do before.
From the creation of the world to the final
promises of a new heaven and earth, the Bible is full of stories of—and
encouragement to observe—new beginnings. Jeremiah wrote about the Lord’s
mercies being new each morning (Lam. 3:22-23). Paul instructs us to forget what
lies behind and to reach forward to what lies ahead (Phil. 3:13). And Jesus
Himself often said things like, “I don’t condemn you for your past. Go and sin
no more” (paraphrased, John 8:11).
God is constantly providing opportunities
for us to have a clean slate, the ultimate fresh start being when He sent His
Son to die on the cross to give us the gift of a new spiritual life. It was a
do-over of epic proportions. And when we accept His salvation, He makes us into
new creations. “The old things [pass] away; behold, new things have come” (2
Corinthians 5:17).
But the fresh start doesn’t end there. As
new creations, we can begin each day by dying to our past selves and embracing
the present opportunity to live in Christ (Rom. 12:1-2). At any moment, we can
renew our minds by remembering what Christ has done for us and given to us. We
can be freed from the burdens of yesterday and embrace the newness of life God
gives us.
Do you need a fresh start with God? Let
today be a new Day of Reconciliation with your heavenly Father. Ask Him for
forgiveness and thank Him for the gift of new life. Start reading His Word
again. Resolve to follow His will for your life. Today is a new day. And
through Christ, you can do it!
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