Today is the first day of the rest of your life!
Think about that.
There is something incredibly powerful about the clean slate of January 1st. It’s a natural moment to exhale the weight of the past year and inhale the possibility of the new one.
But what does Scripture say about this?
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." — Isaiah 43:18-19
We often treat the phrase "the first day of the rest of your life" as a motivational cliché, but spiritually, it is a profound truth. In God’s economy, His mercies are new every morning. This means that your history—whether it was defined by mountain-top successes or valley-low mistakes—does not have to be your destiny.
When I look at my history, I shudder with fear for the future. But the fact is - that is not my destiny. My destiny is to serve the Lord.
The "rest of your life" doesn't start when you reach a certain goal, lose the weight, or fix the relationship. It starts the moment you decide that today is the pivot point.
so,
Break that Rearview Mirror!
It is impossible to run forward effectively if you are constantly looking over your shoulder. Dwelling on "what could have been" or "what went wrong" acts like an anchor, keeping you tethered to a version of yourself that no longer exists.
To embrace this first day, you must give yourself permission to:
• Release the Guilt: Forgive yourself for the habits you didn't break last year.
• Release the Glory: Don't let yesterday’s trophies make you complacent today.
• Accept the Unknown: You don't need to see the whole map to take the first step. There are some who also take a leap of faith - a step into the unknown.
Living as if today is the first day of your life brings a sense of holy curiosity. When everything is new, you notice the details. You listen more closely. You treat people with more kindness because you aren't carrying the baggage of old grudges. You approach your work with "beginner’s eyes," looking for ways to grow rather than just ways to finish.
Let's think about this:
• If I truly believed today was a completely fresh start, what is one "weight" I would choose to stop carrying right now?
• What is one "new thing" (a habit, a mindset, or a goal) I feel a nudge to begin today?
At the end, remember - Today comes every day. Not just on the 1st of Jan.
