Renewal

I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad that it’s a brand-new day.

A fresh start. No matter how yesterday went—whether you burned dinner, lost your patience, or forgot to pay that bill (oops!)—God’s mercies are new every single morning.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” — Lamentations 3:22-23

I don’t know about you, but I like mornings… well, after that first cup of coffee, of course. There’s just something about the start of a new day that feels like hitting a reset button. And thank goodness, because some days we need a serious do-over!

So today, let’s talk about embracing fresh starts, shaking off yesterday’s mistakes, and stepping into God’s grace with joy!

Mornings aren’t just about coffee and alarms—they’re God’s way of saying, “Here’s another chance!” It’s about letting go of yesterday’s mistakes instead of carrying them into today.

Have you ever been making your coffee, got it all poured, ready to drink, and then dropped your cup? That was me… what a horrible way to start my day.

Luckily, there are more than enough coffee cups in my house, and there was still some coffee left, so I got a do-over. This time, I was much more careful and really enjoyed my coffee that morning. I could have let that moment define my day, but instead, I laughed it off. We need that same grace in our spiritual lives!

Start your day with a quick “thank you” prayer, even before checking your phone.

What’s one thing you need to let go of from yesterday?

Do you ever think that God is keeping score? Because He’s not—so why are we?

Remember, our main scripture for today is Lamentations 3:22-23. It’s a great reminder for us every morning:

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.”

How can we remember that? Write it on a sticky note and put it in your bathroom. Reminders like this help us stay in Scripture and apply it.

Instead of replaying past regrets, focus on what you can do better today. We shouldn’t be focusing on mistakes but on what God has done for us.

Do you give yourself the same grace you give others? I do not. I’ll just be honest… I do try, though.

What are some small changes in the morning that can set the tone for the entire day?

For me, I have decided that I’m going to write out a prayer every morning. Sometimes I don’t know what to write, so I just thank God for His grace and provisions. To be honest, that is always how we should start—by thanking God for what He has done for us.

Choosing gratitude over grumbling. Mornings can bring grumbling, depending on how you woke up, but we can reset, look to God for a refresh, and make it a point to say, “You know what? I’m gonna have a good day.” And you can start that reset by playing worship music—or even KJIC—while getting ready. It shifts your focus instantly.

What’s one positive change you can make to your morning routine?

God doesn’t just give fresh starts in the morning—He gives them all day long! If you’ve ever had a “do-over” moment, you know what I mean.

Do you ever laugh at yourself? I laugh at myself all the time.

Joy and laughter are gifts from God—sometimes, the best thing you can do is laugh it off!

Have you ever forgotten someone’s name right after they told you? Yep, that’s me… then, the whole time they’re talking, you’re trying to pay attention, but at the same time, you’re trying to remember what they said their name was. Yep.

We all mess up, but we don’t have to stay there. We can look at it from a lighter side and choose to make that moment just a moment. We can start over anytime by asking God to help us reset.

God has a purpose for you! We have a choice to live out that purpose or not. God is not done with you yet.

So often, we think we’ve done too much to be used by God. Well, stop believing the lie that you’ve “messed up too much” to be used by Him.

One way to get out of that thinking is to pray and ask God to lead you. He will get you back on the path He has for you. He will help you, and He will use you.

Here’s something I want to encourage you to do: take a step toward better thinking about how much God loves you. Just that thought can make us feel refreshed, and I know God will show you His love.

If you can relate to today’s topic of a fresh start, send me an email at rachel@kjic.org and share your story with me.

Since we are talking about fresh starts, let me share a story with you…

I was failing… or so I believed I was. I wasn’t doing the job I thought I should be doing the way I thought it should be done. I was all in my head about it, letting those thoughts rule me, and it affected my attitude. But God sent a word of encouragement through someone for me. If you’re like me and don’t take encouragement well, let’s remember that God gives encouragement. I knew this was sincere and that God had it happen at just the right time. God used someone else to help change my perspective and thoughts around.

You’re not too late, too broken, or too far gone. Fresh starts aren’t just for the morning—they’re for every moment.

Our main scripture for today is so refreshing. Lamentations 3:22-23 says,

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.”

Start saying, “God’s not done with me yet,” when doubt creeps in.

Where do you need a fresh perspective in your life?

Today, we’ve been talking about fresh starts and second chances—but what if we actually lived like we believed it? What if we walked in grace daily instead of letting stress and worry win?

Almost every night, we pray for God to let us sleep well and wake up feeling refreshed. Well, the thing about that is believing what the Bible says—that God does help us sleep well and wakes us up refreshed every morning. One way to stay in that mindset is to remember that joy is a choice, not just a feeling.

Even on rough days, there’s always something to be thankful for.

Ever met someone who is so positive it’s almost suspicious? Like, “Are you for real?” Seriously, you wonder, “Why are you like that?” I wish I had that type of personality sometimes… I don’t, so there’s that. But when I see someone with a joyous spirit like that, it really makes me feel joy as well. It’s contagious, and I find myself being a little more relaxed, laughing, or smiling. Honestly, we need more of that energy!

What’s one thing that made you smile today?

Grace for Others

Just as we receive fresh grace, we should give it to others.

Extending kindness, even when people don’t “deserve” it, reflects God’s love.

Try responding with kindness instead of reacting with frustration today. Listen, I’m in the same boat here—trying to remember not to react when frustrated is sooooo hard. I understand why it’s necessary, but that doesn’t mean I always want to. So often, I find myself stopping mid-sentence because my brain suddenly kicks in.

Not only that, but I would also probably want some grace from others at some point, so I know I should do unto others, right?

Who in your life needs a little extra grace right now?

We don’t have to wait for a new year or a big moment to start fresh.

This tells us that every day, every hour, every moment—God’s grace is there.

In a small coastal town lived a woman named Anya. Anya, a once vibrant artist, had lost her creative spark after a devastating storm swept through her life, leaving her feeling washed ashore, broken, and devoid of color. Every day, she would wake up to the same grey routine, her canvases untouched, her brush silent.

One morning, Anya decided to walk along the shore. As she walked, she noticed a tiny seashell, perfectly polished by the tide, glittering with iridescent colors. It was like a tiny piece of the sunrise, captured in a shell. Picking it up, Anya felt a spark of wonder, a flicker of the old inspiration she had forgotten. She felt renewal. Anya's journey was a reminder that renewal isn't a grand event, but a choice we make every day.

No matter what today looks like, remember—His mercies are new every morning. That means a fresh start is always available.

No matter what today looks like, remember—His mercies are new every morning. That means a fresh start is always available.

Take a deep breath and remind yourself: “Today is a new day, and God is with me.”

How can you embrace today with fresh eyes?

I love that God built ‘new starts’ into every single day. The sun sets, the sun rises, and we get another chance to love, to learn, and to grow.

Remember today’s scripture and carry it with us is Lamentations 3:22-23 and it says, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

So, if today started off rough, or if you’re carrying yesterday’s stress—let it go. The best part of fresh starts? You don’t have to earn them. They’re gifts from a good, good Father.

Remember—tomorrow is another new day, but let’s make the most of this one first.