We are in the month of beginnings, January the first month of the new year, it often sets the tone for the new year, but it is not the month it’s self that sets the tone, but what we do in that month. That is why we feel strongly about setting the tone of prayer, prayer can establish the direction not only for the month, but for the year, and the rest of our lives.
Our God is a God of beginnings, 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1, Jesus is one for beginnings also, 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3, this shows us how awesome beginnings are, the creative power of beginnings.
The great thing about beginnings, they can happen anytime, they don’t just happen at the start of life, it can happen in the middle of life or even toward the end, beginnings have no expiration date, the Holy Spirit could prompt you at any time to begin serving, teaching, leading, etc. Noah was somewhere between 500-600 yrs. old when he began the Ark, Moses was 80 when He was called to begin leading the children of Israel, Samuel was just a boy when he was called by God to begin following Him, so beginnings can happen at any point in life.
Some of us have begun and failed, some of us have begun and quit, some of us have begun and made terrible mistakes, but the good news is we can begin again, we can start where we left off, or even better we can begin all over again, we can take what we learned and do even better. Maybe we made a total mess of our lives, or marriages, you name it, because we are human, we can mess it up, just like the parable of the prodigal son, 1 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Luke 15:11-13, but also like this parable, God sees how we mess things up from time to time, and is there to offer us that new beginning. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:21-24
So don’t let mistakes and failures determine the outcome of your month, year or life, let’s not focus on the past years, months, or even days, let the God of beginnings work in your life.
Ps. Paul