Christian Reflection and Prayer

How You Can Make a Fresh Start
Whitney Hopler

(The last two Reflections in the series)

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. 

#13. Share your story with others.  Let people
who don't yet have relationships with Jesus
know about how God has given you a fresh
start in life.  Talk with people on common
ground (wherever you all are regularly together,
such as at work, school, or your favorite restaurant). 
Accept people as God's creations, even when
you don't agree with their lifestyles or approve
of their choices.  Avoid being preachy, pushy,
or phony with them.
Simply share the story of what you life was like
before Jesus and what it has been like since
Jesus changed your life.  Then naturally shift
the conversation to them, asking about something
simple like: "What about you?  Have you ever had
any interest in God?".  As you're faithful in caring
for people, you can expect God to do the rest of
the work to draw them into relationships with Him. 
Celebrate how God uses your own fresh start to
inspire other people to pursue fresh starts in their
own lives.

#14.  Keep going strong.  Stay closely
connected to God so you can live with
passion each day and depend on God's
power to help you live out the right values. 
Your fresh start can keep propelling your
life in the right direction.

{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