A New Heart For A New Year
There’s nothing quite like starting over–especially with the freshness of a new heart. It’s like the first day of sunshine after a week of rain.
I love rain, but repeated days of rain and gray clouds are dreary and typical of a Texas winter–which we are right in the middle of. When the sun finally comes out, it’s like a breath of fresh air and smile in my heart. It feels like spring when everything is new. I almost hate to put my sunglasses on! Then it’s back to clouds and storms. I am a sunny person, and these dreary days are getting wearisome. I’m starting to feel it in my heart, and I don’t like it one bit.
But weary hearts aren’t always a result of dreary days. Sometimes weary hearts are broken hearts, weighted down by past mistakes.
If this describes your heart, and the only thing you want for the new year is a lighter heart, I want to share hope with you!
God loves broken hearts–He specializes in them. It is the pathway to restoration.
Brokenness is the pathway to restoration. Share on XYou do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. (Psalm 51:16-17)
Bring your brokenness before the Lord, He has a gift for you!
You can have a new heart for your new year!
You may remember King David and his failure with Bathsheba. If you’re not familiar with the story, you can read about it in 2 Samuel 11-12. Suffice it to say, it’s a story filled with sex, lies, murder, betrayal–the worst of the worst stuff. Honorable King David failed miserably. Oh, how he loved God. But he messed up big time.
When the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin, David was full of remorse. Psalm 51 records the path David took to restore his relationship with God. After confessing his sin, David asked God to …
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:10-12)
That word create is a-mazing! Vine’s Expository Dictionary says this:
This verb is of profound theological significance, since it has only God as its subject. Only God can “create” in the sense implied by bara˒. The verb expresses creation out of nothing …1
Did you catch that? David is asking God to give him a new heart. He’s not asking God to heal his sinful one. He’s asking for a new one. One that is completely clean. In total, he’s asking for spiritual renewal.
None of us is immune to failure. In fact, all of us deal with it at some time in our lives–some, more than others. We can take the same path of restoration!
First, like David, we confess our sin (verses 1-6). Then God restores us and allows us to experience joy once again.
What a beautiful way to enter the New Year. It’s a beautiful way to start any day. It’s yours for the asking. You can start fresh anytime, any place.
Spiritual renewal is a beautiful way to start any day–not just New Year's Day. Share on XThe 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)
Image: Pixabay (Hans Braxmeier)
1 W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 51.
This is beautiful, Dianne. I too want a new heart for the new year. Our God is faithful and He can do it!
By the way, I’m more than happy to send you a daily dose of sunshine if that would help! 🙂
Thanks, Marva! I’d love a dose of sunshine! Today was one of those amazing days. Perfect weather! The next couple of days are supposed to be good, too!
So beautiful Dianne! Love this! Right now God is allowing some brokenness in my life, so I truly needed to hear this once again. “Brokenness is the pathway to restoration.” amen sister, I just need to cling to Him and let Him restore and heal my heart once again!
Praying for you, Johanna, as you yield to Him … That the refiner will have His way, and that you will come forth as gold! ((Hugs))
Dianne, this is a great read for the New Year! I will be praying that for myself today.
Oh, I love that only God can create something out of nothing. All too often I stumble around trying to ‘create’ something (usually a better, healthier, more organized me). This is a task I need to leave up to God!
Beautiful reminder, Dianne! I’m so glad God loves and forgives. He also gives strength and grace for broken hearts, too. Hope you have a great week! Blessings to you!
Agreeing with you–it’s a beautiful way to start today!
So true, Anita. It’s our hearts that He wants. Everything else gets taken care of when we’re right with God.
Thanks, Gayl. Blessings right back at you!!
I love this, Dianne! “I am a sunny person, and these dreary days are getting wearisome. I’m starting to feel it in my heart, and I don’t like it one bit.” Amen and me, too! I am so ready for Spring! Don’t you just love how God makes all things NEW? Great post!
I love starting fresh! I cannot complain about dreary days this winter as we’ve had unusual weather but now it is frigidly cold and big snow coming the end of the week. He’s doing a new thing!
I’m so grateful God gives us a new heart. I love the way you showed what David was asking for. Definitions bring such richness to our understanding of Biblical words.
Oh I’m so glad God included the story of David in the Bible! He even counted David for his faith, even after the sinful, human things he did. It gives me hope.
God can create a clean heart and make all things new! I’m so very thankful for that.
Beautiful post of encouragement, friend!
This was so good! Loved it. I’m with your mom – I’m glad I raised my kids in the years before technology exploded. Only now, I have a grandson and he LOVES the ipad – at only age two!!! UGH.
You’re so right about this. We are teaching them every time we stay on that phone or computer. Bubble mom.
LOVE. IT. 🙂
Amen, Karrilee! We have a sunny day today!
We have sun today, so that makes me feel happy. The good news is that we can experience God’s joy any time … All a choice and our perspective, right?
I need that new heart and new start every day, Ginger. He is so good to us.
Oh, yes. He still lets us be a part of His great plan! Love you, sister!!