Is it really possible for me to get a fresh start? - Beginnings - TouchPoints

Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Hearts can become soiled, and spirits can be guilty of betrayal. On our own we cannot cleanse these or reverse the damage done by our sin, though it is tempting to engage in that hopeless work. How much better it is to turn to the God of new beginnings and ask him to do what we cannot do for ourselves!

Zechariah 4:10Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.

Like little children displaying their simple efforts to a parent, the people of Israel who had returned from exile stood before God in the small footprint of their Temple reconstruction, overwhelmed by its and their inadequacies. They knew the building would not equal the previous magnificent Temple or be worthy of the God they sought to worship. But like a loving parent, God had Zechariah assure them that the Lord was delighted with their efforts. Our inability to ever create anything that will impress our heavenly Father must never be an excuse not to start what he has instructed us to do.

Philippians 1:6I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

As flawed people still living in a fallen world, our efforts to live out the new life God has given us will suffer setbacks and even catastrophes. It helps a great deal to remember that our responsibility is not to accomplish the work ourselves as much as it is to get out of the way and joyfully let God accomplish what he has planned. Once God begins, he never gives up on one of his projects.