Christian Reflection and Prayer

How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

(The next Reflections will be a series
of 14 brief messages on how you can make a
Fresh Start in your life. It is my prayer
that these suggestions will help provide
a real renewal in your total life.)

Do you feel stuck?  Maybe you don't
like the way your life has been going
lately, but can't seem to change it.
No matter how stuck you may have
become, you can move forward with
God's help.  Here's how you can make
a fresh start to change your life for the better:

#6.  Move on from guilt.  If guilt over
wrong decisions you made in the past
is keeping you stuck, you can move on
with God's help.  Confess your sins,
mistakes, and failures to God, repent of
your sins, and accept the forgiveness that
He offers you.  Read and reflect on Bible
verses about forgiveness.  Pray for God
to give you peace about your past.  Talk
about your past and God's forgiveness
with some caring Christian friends who
will support you as you leave guilt behind.
Remember that there's absolutely nothing
you've done in the past that God can redeem. 
Move forward in the confidence that God has
not only forgiven you, but that He also wants
to use you to do significant work in His kingdom. 
Once you're free from guilt, you're free to say
"yes" to God when He presents opportunities
for you to serve Him.

{Adapted from Fresh Start: God's Invitation to
a Great Life copyright 2009 by Doug Fields.
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.
Article publication date: August 20, 2009)