How many of us are grateful for second chances and new beginnings? Yes, most of us are because most of us know how many times we've needed a second chance. And God knows that we need many new beginnings. In fact, He made sure we would have one every day. How? Well, first of all He took the whole of eternity and broke it down into hundreds of incremental pieces: 24 hour periods that we know as a day. Then, every 365 days we start a whole new year. There’s also a new season four times every year. So many chances for a new start. But always, every 24 hours, the sun sets and rises again with a new dawn: another chance at a new beginning.

As we end the year, we again have an opportunity to start afresh again next year. Some people may have a few victories with trophies this past year and that’s wonderful. There are others who may be living with guilt or a sense of failure, not sure if they have the strength to finish strong. There may even be some who would do things differently if they could live this year over again.

However, the question for us isn’t, “What if I could live this year all over again?” Rather, the question is: “What am I going to do with the year that lay ahead?” This past year is irretrievably gone, but today and tomorrow are within your grasp. You face important decisions because you don’t want to make the same mistakes. And in order for God to write a new chapter on your life, you must turn the old page and give that to Him: all of it. That way you allow Him to give you a brand-new start and that is the gift of closure.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!” (Is. 43:18-19)

That is not just a scripture, it’s but a promise to this church. Take it and commit it to memory; imbed it in your heart. I believe that this next year many people (who have been away from the Lord) will have a homecoming and that’s a promise for all of us.

Where would you possibly start? How will you make it all work? It can seem overwhelming, at first, but there are a few steps to help you begin the process of finishing this year strong.

Check back throughout the week to find out the steps to take...