Fresh Grace and New Mercies

Winter is not my favorite time of year. But one of the aspects of winter that I do enjoy is the clean, white look of the landscape after a fresh snowfall. It’s as if God is covering the harshness of winter with “fresh grace” to remind us of His ability to transform what is ugly in our lives into something beautiful.

As we say “goodbye” to 2023 and look ahead to a fresh New Year, let each snowfall remind us of the Lord’s “New Mercies” that arrive daily giving us the strength to rise above the sin that attempts to drag us down, and the difficult circumstances that would steal our joy.

Are you being weighed down with the regret that comes from poor choices you made in 2023? May I remind you of the wisdom the Holy Spirit gave the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14? “…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

This advice does not encourage irresponsible spiritual “amnesia” as if there are no consequences for our actions. But it is a recognition that God’s infinite grace for His believing child covers it all because of the finished work of Christ on the cross and that God is able to cause “all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

And remember, God saved you knowing that you were going to sin after your salvation, but that His grace is greater than all your sin. He only wants you to confess it, repent (turn away) from it, stand up and move forward in His strength. Even if the Lord disciplines you because of your sin, it is only because He loves you too much to leave you the way He found you. Please let these words from Hebrews 12 encourage your heart:

“My son, do not take lightly the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son…therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed” (Heb.12:5,6,12,13).

My friend, the Lord’s grace for you will never fail. Remember that every snowfall!