In order to embrace the new, you must first let go of the old. The old wounds, the old way of thinking, the old fears and the old way of doing things. It has been said that for something new to begin, something old has to end. In Matthew 9:17, the Lord Jesus said: "No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Both the skins and the wine will then be safe."

I like new things. I especially like a pretty new dress and a pair of shoes! I like to visit new places and eat at new restaurants. I also like to meet interesting new people with creative ideas. I like to hear a Bible teacher who gives a fresh new perspective to an old Truth. In other words, I like being renewed in the spirit of my mind.

Newness brings a sense of excitement and wonder. I want to challenge you this year, to dare to try new things, new places and meet new people. Let go of the past and walk into your future. If your hands and heart are tightly clinched around the past, you can not grasp the new. You can not move forward if you are continually looking in the rear view mirror! Are you ready to embrace the new thing God wants to do in your life? Your future starts today and it truly is the first day of the rest of your life.

Prayer:
Father, thank you that as your child I am a new creation in Christ; the old has gone, the new has come! Help me to let go of the past and embrace what you want to do new in my life today. I will sing unto you LORD a new song; for you have done marvelous things.