All of us at times in our lives will come to a place where we will
need a new beginning, a place where things aren't the way they need
to be in our lives. We will find that there are some things out of
order in our lives because of the choices we've made. These choices
have produced un-wanted fruit in our life. Therefore, we need a new
beginning - a chance to start over. Everything has a beginning.
There is a beginning to your life, there is a beginning to your
education, there is a beginning to your marriage, and there is a
place to start over.
We serve a God who is the God of a second chance and He is the
master of new beginnings. He will give you a new beginning. He is
not only able to do this but He is also willing to give you a fresh
start. No matter how you've fouled things up, He is willing to give
you a fresh start. You may be walking through a divorce, or maybe
you are walking in sickness at this very moment and need a fresh
start. Don't despair because your Heavenly Father is the creator of
new beginnings will help you through. Don't forget that He is the
Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end.
Sometimes we make decisions and choices that cause hardships in our life and we have to pay the price. Wrong decisions cost us. When we make wrong choices we are going to need discipline to get through it.
We repeatedly bind ourselves to heartache by accepting the lie that we are damaged goods and can never be what we desires to be. Sometimes self-destructing thoughts will dance across the stage of our mind, mocking and sneering, and defying all of our decisions and all of our choices. For some, self-destruction seems to be a viable option to their present mess created by a mistake. We must wake up and stop destroying ourselves unintentionally on purpose.
GOD DESIRES TO GIVE YOU A NEW BEGINNING
The first thing we have to do is repent and change our direction. If we don't repent there is no help for us. In order to get a new beginning we must repent.
"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son (Luke 15:20-21)." (KJV)
This was the greatest of moments for the prodigal, the most momentous event in the life of any person. It is the summit of human experience. The prodigal returned to God: he sought reconciliation with his Father. When we recognize that our choices are not pleasing to God we must decide to turn to Him for forgiveness. We must follow the example that the prodigal set forth. He repented: he got up and turned from his wrong decisions and went to his Father. He was no longer just thinking about it; he went to his Father and repented.
We must never forget that we are accepted even before we confess. He will always have mercy and reach out with compassion to all those who come to Him.
"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18).
It is important that we understand the truth that God will always restore you.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry (Luke 15:22-24).
In order to create a new beginning for our life we must first repent and turn to God, our Father.
The second thing we must do in order to change our direction is study the word. It is imperative that we get the word in us. Because once we get God's word living on the inside there will be some attitudes, beliefs, and negative thoughts that will have to move out.
If we don't get the word in us wrong things will never leave such as: wrong attitudes, wrong thoughts, the presuppositions that we have toward life and other people will never leave. There are many that don't even know that the way they talk and the way they present themselves is very offensive to others.
The flaws in life that we have will never be controlled without the word of God. God can't give us a new beginning if we continue to act like the same old person. See its like this, if you keep on doing the same old things your going to get the same old results.
In order to get something different you have to start doing something different. REPENT, then get the WORD in you. If the word does not get in you, your house will be empty and the enemy is going to come back and bring seven more spirits more wicked than himself (Luke 11:24-26).
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness (2:14-16).
We are to shun profane and vain babbling's. If we continue to babble what will happen? They will increase our ungodliness. He is saying not only is babbling ungodly but you will have some other things that will come into your life that are ungodly.
Paul urged Timothy to remind the believers not to argue over unimportant details ("quarreling about words") or have foolish discussions ("godless chatter") because such arguments are confusing, useless, and even harmful. We have to watch how we talk.
When you start studying the word of God some conversations will be avoided. Because the word of God will put it in check and you will not be able to run your mouth the way you use too.
We are not to argue and to strive over words that do not profit the hearer. Too often we want to be the first one to spread some new news. We don't know the facts, don't know anything about the story, it is just something that we heard through the grapevine and we want to talk about it.
When the word is in you it will strengthen you to refrain from arguing over petty matters. Let that soak in for a minute.
There is no reason that we should be arguing over petty matters. Those things that are not important. Then get mad at one another and carry on for days, weeks, and sometimes months over a matter that should have already been dropped even before it started. Then we want to keep it as gospel and live our life according to it. When its nothing but gossip. How are we going to get a new beginning when we keep staying in the old? It will never happen.
When you are with another person it is the responsibility of each to communicate words that profit one another. When a situation arises that we don't like or that we are concerned about, sometimes we have to shut our mouth and walk on. We have to become trusting enough on the Holy Ghost that He will work it out. But we are so into our selves that we have to make sure that it happens the way we want.
You will never get a new beginning as long as you continue to babble, continue to cause arguments, and stirring up strife you'll never get a new beginning. To often our words are useless and unprofitable and sometimes they are upsetting and very destructive. Now as you read this I don't want you thinking about somebody else. You better look in that mirror like I have to look in the mirror. And see what you have done to keep your new beginnings from being a part of your life.
Now begin to picture the unprofitable and the upsetting words that go on in the church. It is time for the church to grow up. God has not called your pastor to be a watch dog. Where he has to bark at and bite the sheep to get them to go in the right direction. If we will not listen to our conscience and do right then no one can help us. Not even our pastor.
God has called your pastor to lead and to be an example of godliness. When you have a godly pastor watch him when you don't know what to do or how to act. Just because he doesn't speak out against some things that are going on in your church doesn't mean that he doesn't know about them.
The main difference between a pastor and his congregation is that he will choose to pray and wait on God before he addresses the situation. One thing you can be sure of is that a godly pastor understands the power of words and what they can do.
Sometimes we have to keep our mouth shut and let God have his way. The arguments and strife are always running rampant in God's house. And there are always leaders and members that are willing to keep it going.
We have the power to change the spiritual climate of our church. If each one of us would do our part and allow God to give us a new beginning. We will retire from the rumor mill, stay off the gossip train and not being critical in our opinions. Sometimes people don't need to know your opinion. It isn't about what you think. It's about what God thinks. What's He has to say about it.
If we don't get in the word we will not know what God thinks about the matter. When you don't know God's word you will be easily moved by the traditions of men. The unscriptural traditions in the church keep you in bondage because they feed your flesh. And when you feed your flesh you will not get a new beginning.
It is critical to our new beginning that we study the word of God and live by His word. We must set our heart upon the word by being diligent and to seeking the approval of God. A believer is a fool if he doesn't seek the approval of God.
We fall short because the first person we seek the approval of is self. WRONG! We must remove God off the bottom of our approval totem pole and place Him on the top. He is the first person we need approval from.
When we seek the approval of God first we will get some new beginnings because our attitudes, our thoughts and some thinking patterns will change because we have put God first in our lives and choices.
We are to study the word of God and rightly divide it. This means that we are to look at the word and cut it straight and allow it to stand by itself and on its own. We must be careful not to cut the word crooked for when we do we will take wrong trails and be side tracked to the truth. How do we keep from doing this, you may ask? We must prove scripture with scripture. Scripture will always uphold itself. When we study to learn the word we are to actually teach the word. We are not to teach our own ideas nor the theories of people. Instead we are to speak the Word of God.
We are not to twist the word and fix it to what we think. But instead we have to twist and fix our thoughts to agree with the word of God. Because the word will stand on it's own in every situation of life. Any person who mishandles God's word is not approved of God.
Think about what I'm saying. We want to be people of God, we want to show forth the glory of God then let us go study the word of God. So He can give us a new beginning and change some things in our life.
Once God gives you a revelation of the changes you have to make then you must make them. Don't tell me that God doesn't speak to you when you get ready to mess up. You just choose to disobey.
The word of God will change the course of your life when you obey Him. Its your responsibility to get the word in you and to allow it to work it's power in your life.
It is important that you pour the word over your mind daily. Because each and every day our mind gathers the dirt, the grime, and the dust of other people's opinions and clogs our thinking causing our decisions and attitudes to be distorted. The word will cleanse and wash our mind and renew it from being conformed to the world. The word of God is like a waterfall washing, cleaning and purifying our mind.
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:26-27.
Don't be one of these fake word Christians. These are Christians that know the word but don't live by the word. They can tell you everything that the Bible says, but when you look at their life they are all messed up because they are not living the word they preach.
Don't make the mistake that just because a person knows the word that they are a spiritual person. There are a whole lot of devils that know the word of life.
Now in closing, remember, it all begins with repentance. Don't forget that repentance will free us from the guilt of the past. Then we are to study God's word so our mind will be renewed. As we get the word in us we must confess what the word says about us. This action we will renew our mind then we will begin to speak victory into our life instead of defeat. And finally as our mind is renewed we will have a paradigm shift concerning life and others. One of the greatest shifts will come in the area of how we communicate with others.
Be encouraged because today is the day you can initiate your new beginning. The renewing of our mind is the key to changing within and creating a new beginning in our life.
