I think one of the reasons that people love a new year is that it can represent a new beginning - a chance to start again. It's a time when many people make resolutions to do something differently or break a bad habit.
As Christians, we don't have to wait for the beginning of a new year. The scripture tells us that his mercies are "new every morning." (Lamentations 3:23 ESV)
While we've heard about God's mercy and the enormity of his power to forgive, sometimes we have a hard time actually accepting it and walking in that forgiveness.
To not accept God's forgiveness - to believe that our sin is too great - is to make our sin more powerful than God. If we say that God can't forgive our sin, whatever it is, in effect, we are saying - God is not powerful enough, God is not great enough, God does not have enough grace for us.
It's worth looking at the whole of Lamentations 3:23, as well as the verse before it.
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
If we will only see it, only accept it - God is powerful enough, God is great enough, and God does have enough grace for each of us and for every sin. Like God Himself, the love of God is steadfast, unchanging, never ending.
Lord, help us to never diminish you and your power to forgive our sin, however great.
we are so glad that His mercies are new every morning and that His love never fails! PTL!!!
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