Seems that I have the same recurring thought every year for New Year’s Day, and resolutions, and fresh starts.

We all love a fresh start, a clean slate, a point to move forward and improve from. There is so much hope that hangs around starting a new year. I love seeing the hope, the inspiration, the motivation to do better.

But what if we started each day with the recognition that God gives us a clean slate for that day? What if we went to bed every night with a repentant heart, and asked God for His forgiveness, and we started each day new? New for us? For our families? Our coworkers and friends?

Instead of waking up, still hurting, angry, or disappointed by yesterday, we woke up renewed and ready to make the best of that day. I know that living this way is not a sure fire way to having 100% perfect days, but if I didn’t wake up mad about yesterday’s messes, how much better could I cope with today?

And if I asked God to forgive me every night for the specific mistakes I made that day, and woke up without shame, or guilt, but covered by His grace, how much more grace could I give to those around me? How much brighter could I shine the light of Christ to the world?

God gives us a brand new start every day…we don’t have to wait for a new year to start fresh. How much different could this whole year, and possibly the rest of our lives be if we lived in the peace, comfort and grace of a daily fresh start?