Altar Call – Opelika-Auburn News
Walter Albritton
December 30, 2018
Make a new beginning
The
year ends. A new year begins. What a marvelous idea! It offers each of us the
opportunity to do two healthy things: let go of the past and make a new
beginning.
The
journey of life is more enjoyable when you travel light. And one of the best
ways to lighten your load is to discard lingering guilt about your mistakes. No
one is perfect. We all make mistakes. We yield to temptation. Pride takes over
and we fall. We say and do stupid things without thinking.
Of course most of our mistakes are
not tragic; they simply make life miserable. And we can overcome that misery by
admitting we were wrong. Then, having done that incredibly difficult thing, we
can ask for forgiveness and make amends whenever possible.
Not
all broken relationships can be healed. Sometime it is necessary to “get over
it and move on.” We cannot “fix” every problem we face. That is why God offers
us grace, the grace to accept his forgiveness, forgive others, forgive
ourselves and move on into a new beginning.
As
the year comes to a close, it will improve our health to identify negative
“luggage” and cast it aside. Such excess baggage could be resentment toward
someone who cheated you, anger toward someone who got what you thought you
deserved, or even hatred toward someone who hurt you. That kind of luggage
becomes heavier with each passing day so it is wise to get rid of it.
Saint
Paul told his Philippian friends that he was going to “forget” the past and
look to the future. To be honest, there are somethings that are well-nigh
impossible to forget. But we can try and God will help us because he has the
power to set us free from the past. That can only happen, however, when we are
willing to let go of the past.
On
the last few days of every year I try to identify the things that are weighing
me down. Having done that, I find that the Lord helps me “let go” of all that
stuff so the load I carry into the new year will be lighter.
January first is a beautiful day,
rain or shine, because it gives me a new start. Life has a way of grinding us
down. A new beginning helps us find new energy to face the challenge and the
misery of the new year. So during these days I enjoyed my family, watched some
football games and threw out some emotional garbage that hopefully will help me
to live each new day to the fullest.
New beginnings are absolutely
necessary. For example, most marriages will not last without several new
beginnings. Mine would have ended in chaos years ago had Dean and I not “started
over” many times.
Fresh
starts are necessary for friendships to survive. Stupid comments can rob us of
the friendship of people we care about. Most of my friends have had to forgive
me for saying something asinine. A real friend knows who you really are so true
friends know that on occasion they must forgive you for those times when you speak
before your brain is in gear.
Friendship
remain alive when people are willing to forgive one another and start over.
Those who expect perfection from themselves and others wind up with few friends.
Only those who learn how to say, “Please forgive me, I was wrong” will have
lasting marriages or friendships.
Fresh
starts are necessary for spiritual growth. We need to care for the soul as well
as the body so it helps to make a new start with spiritual disciplines. I need
to be more diligent in worship and caring for the poor as well as prayer and
Bible study. Since there is no substitute for a daily appointment with God, I
need for my new beginning to include a time alone with God each morning.
Getting alone with God as the day begins –
that may be the best idea I can share with you as one year ends and another
begins. God can help us put the past behind us by burying old wounds, lingering
guilt and hurt feelings. Doing so will prevent the past from dogging us to the
grave.
While the past can hold us in
bondage, God can break the chains that hold us hostage if we are willing to do
one thing: Get over it and move on! Stop regurgitating your hurts. Flush guilt
down the drain. Be done with it. If the people you have offended will not
forgive you, then at least forgive yourself and throw yourself a fresh start
party. Ask the good Lord to help you live a better life the rest of the way
home. God delights in giving us a second chance – and a third and a fourth!
Once
we are willing to get over the stuff that enslaves us, we can move on. We can
make a new start and nobody can rob us of the fun of celebrating our freedom
from past pain, sin and failure. God loves a good party, especially a party
where his children are drinking the sweet wine of forgiveness and making a new
start.
So
ere December ends, ask the good Lord to help you let go of your past. And as
January begins, ask him to help you make a new beginning. It’s something God delights in doing because
he loves you!! + + +