Have you ever received something really new and shiny? Maybe it was the latest phone or your first car. Brand-new items are untainted, unscathed, and without blemish. Babies, though loud are born without making a mistake. As they grow and change, their humanity becomes apparent and soon, they walk straight into the sinful nature we all possess. Though we all make missteps, those do not define who we are. Thankfully, we have a loving Savior who forgives us and gives us second, third, and millionth chances. Another way to visualize this is to picture an artist. When they sit down with a new canvas, there is so much potential at the end of the brush. They have a clear tablet to create upon.

We read in Lamentations chapter three that the Lord’s mercies are new each and every morning. We wake up to a clean slate every single day. It is like waking up to a new car every day, only better, and free! Mercy is a great and glorious gift.

In just a couple of days, we will wake up to not only a different day but a fresh year. It is uncharted and full of potential. 2022, as crazy as it is to believe, will soon be over. When the calendar rolls into 2023, the year we are currently in will be in the past. Do not dwell there. Leave your mistakes, worries, and shortfalls there. Yes, there may still be circumstances you have to address, but for the most part, when January first comes, so do new possibilities and novelty.

What will you do with 2023? What exciting changes will you strive to undergo? What sort of adventures will you take? It is brand new and it can be wonderful. Take your clean slate and paint it wonderfully. You may mess up here and there, but please do not stop creating the beautiful masterpiece God is helping you design.

Rachel is a lover of travel, nachos, and the gospel. She is a graduate of Urshan College and will most likely always call it Gateway. She recently graduated with her master’s degree in counseling and human services and is currently serving at The Pentecostals of Cooper City in South Florida.