New things
The beginning of the year signifies a fresh start. For children, it means the beginning of a new school year with new teachers, books, stationery, and maybe a new resolve to be top of the class.
As a child, I remember opening that new exercise book on the first day of school and making the first marks on the first fresh page. In some ways, for me, it was the beginning of how the year would pan out – if I did a good job and the teacher liked it, I would like that subject; if not, well, I would have to work harder!
Even today, getting that new diary, making those first entries and filling in appointments and happenings speaks to me about how the year will be. God gives us each new year and a new day to begin again. We live day by day in the newness and see each day as a way to start again with a new resolve.
In Revelation 21:5, we read that God says, ‘I am making everything new!’ Each day when we shower or wash, we can remember that we have been washed clean in our baptism and have a chance to make a new start each day to live as God wants us to. Live this new year with the promises God made to us in our baptism – ‘You are God’s precious child, and he will be with you always, to the end of the age!’
Live in the newness of each day, looking forward to the blessings God provides. ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Lutheran Tract Mission (LTM) has resources to help you begin each new day with Jesus! Go to the LTM website at www.ltm.org.au and search for Christian growth.
LTM has also recently added 34 new tracts. It adds to the range of over 1000 titles, with countless tracts to suit your situation or ministry! Click here to browse the resources.
You can also start each new day reading God’s word with LTM’s Daily Bible Readings for 2025 – a list of Bible readings taken from Year C of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand Revised Common Lectionary.
Anne Hansen is Lutheran Tract Mission’s Tract Development Officer.
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