There is something about new beginnings that we love. Driving a new car, shopping for new clothes, the butterflies that come with a new relationship, buying a new home, the promise of a new year, or writing in a new journal. I think the promise of new things is why we love Christmas so much. It’s chock full of brand-spanking-new stuff! I received a new mixer this year, and I’m excited for all the recipes I want to try! New things excite us. They motivate and inspire us to action of some sort. We say things like, “I’m going to start doing this or that,” or, in my case, “I am going to start cooking more.” This allows us to grow, create, invent and adapt.
When my husband and I got home on Christmas evening, we dragged in all of our new stuff from the car. As we were putting it away, we became frustrated with all the old stuff that was taking up needed space! So what did we do? We had a whole day of spring cleaning. We got rid of all of our old stuff that we were tired of and that we no longer needed — things that no longer excited or motivated us.
I believe that our excitement of new beginnings is instilled in us by God because of his promise to make all things new (Revelation 21:5). God talks a lot about new beginnings. In fact, the first three words of the Bible are, “In the beginning.” David speaks of singing a new song of praise to the Lord (Psalm 40:3). Ezekiel says that God will renew our spirits (Ezekiel 11:19). Paul says that we have been made new by God and that we no longer have to live according to our old selves (Ephesians 4:22–24). The author of Lamentations declared that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23). We love new beginnings! They mean an end to old ways and painful memories. They give us hope for a better tomorrow. They allow us to marvel in joy of the Lord for what he is doing in and for those whom he has called by name.