March 28, 2024

Day One

Well, I wish I had a short-term memory
Wish the only thing my eyes could see
Was the future burning bright right in front of me
But I can’t stop looking back

Yeah, I wish I was a perfect picture of
Somebody who’s never not good enough
I try to measure up but I mess it up
And I wish I wasn’t like that

I wish I wasn’t wishing anymore
Wish I could remember that nobody’s keeping score
I’m tired of throwing pennies in a well
I gotta do something
Here goes nothin’

It’s day one of the rest of my life
It’s day one of the best of my life
I’m marching on to the beat of a brand new drum
Yeah, here I come
The future has begun
Day one

Well, every single day Your grace reminds me
That my best days are not behind me
Wherever my yesterday may find me
Well, I don’t have to stay there

See my hourglass is upside down
My someday soon is here and now
The clock is tickin’
And I’m so sick and tired of missing out

It’s day one
And here comes the sun

Every morning, every morning
Every morning, mercy’s new
Every morning, every morning
Every morning, I will fix my eyes on You
Every morning, every morning
Every morning, mercy’s new
Every morning, every morning
Sun’s coming up, the beginning has begun

Starting over, I’m starting over
Starting over, I’m starting over, starting now
I’m starting over
Starting over, I’m starting over
Starting over
Starting over, starting now
I’m starting over

Matthew West
Written along with Pete Kipley

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There is something to starting over—the past is the past and there is a new day to try again.  Our God is the God of second (and third) chances and so much more.  He has so much grace and mercy to shower on us freely and promises that we can cling to when we are struggling.

On the day that we cross over from death to life, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Day in and day out we are guided in our words and actions, but there are times that we do not choose to obey those nudges and we make choices that we aren’t happy about.  God forgives always and He asks us not to go back there—the past, that is.  We are to go forward with joy and know that something good will come out of it and that your Father erases them, over and over.

His Word is so full of hope and promises to claim. Here are a few:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5 NKJV

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Let us pray: Dear God, You are our joy and treasure.  Your love is neverending and Your promises always come true.  You give us fresh starts over and over and You never turn us away.  Oh Lord, thank You for Your mercy and grace.  Thank You for wiping our tears and giving us a new hope for the future.  Give us strength and courage to keep walking in faith and to never lose hope.  We love You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day One

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Well, I wish I had a short-term memory
Wish the only thing my eyes could see
Was the future burning bright right in front of me
But I can’t stop looking back
Yeah, I wish I was a perfect picture of
Somebody who’s never not good enough
I try to measure up but I mess it up
And I wish I wasn’t like that

I wish I wasn’t wishing anymore
Wish I could remember that nobody’s keeping score
I’m tired of throwing pennies in a well
I gotta do something
Here goes nothin’

It’s day one of the rest of my life
It’s day one of the best of my life
I’m marching on to the beat of a brand new drum
Yeah, here I come
The future has begun
Day one

Well, every single day Your grace reminds me
That my best days are not behind me
Wherever my yesterday may find me
Well, I don’t have to stay there
See my hourglass is upside down
My someday soon is here and now
The clock is tickin’
And I’m so sick and tired of missing out

It’s day one
And here comes the sun
Every morning, every morning
Every morning, mercy’s new
Every morning, every morning
Every morning, I will fix my eyes on You
Every morning, every morning
Every morning, mercy’s new
Every morning, every morning
Sun’s coming up, the beginning has begun

Starting over, I’m starting over
Starting over, I’m starting over, starting now
I’m starting over
Starting over, I’m starting over
Starting over
Starting over, starting now
I’m starting over

Singer / Songwriter: Matthew West along with Pete Kipley

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish,
for His mercies never end.
They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness!
Lamentations 3:22-23

Every day we can start over!  Isn’t that awesome?  I don’t know about you, but I can certainly use a do-over every now & then.  (Ok, let’s be real—every day I need at least {1} do-over!)

Does this describe you? “But I can’t stop looking back….”  I know it does me.  Too often I get focused on the past.  Satan loves to bring up our mistakes, our failures, and our bad choices to keep us from moving forward.  Isaiah 43:18 (NIV) tells us to “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”  Philippians 3:13b (NLT) reminds us to “…Focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,”

Or, as this song says:
“Well, every single day Your grace reminds me
That my best days are not behind me
Wherever my yesterday may find me
Well, I don’t have to stay there”

We do not have to remain locked in the past.

1 Peter 1:3 states that in “His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope….” Each day His mercies are new. Each day we have that living hope. Ephesians 4:23 (NIV) affirms that we are “…made new in the attitude of your minds….”

I love this verse from Isaiah 60 (AMP):

Arise [from the depression and prostration
in which circumstances have kept you —rise to a new life]!
Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord),
for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

We can arise from our past, our circumstances.  Each morning the glory of the Lord rises upon us!  Isn’t that amazing?  I am astounded that He loves us that much.  Each morning we arise to a new life. Hallelujah!!!

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Father, I am so thankful that each day is the first day of the rest of our life. I am so thankful You view us through the blood of Christ and that His mercies are new each morning. Remind me to leave the past behind where it belongs and to look forward to the wonderful future You have for me. In Your Holy Name I ask this, Amen – It Is So!