a fresh start

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Many years ago, I was counseling a married couple who were on the brink of divorce. They never really started with the best practices in place that would help them succeed. They had both made mistakes that for a long time, were tolerated. Then some new pressures began to abound in their marriage. Pressure has this way of bringing out the best or the worst in people. In this case, it seemed to exasperate their problems and things headed south. Thoughts and words became negative toward each other and it seemed like bridges crossing over to any parts of love were being blown up one by one. As I listened and looked at the big picture, it was my conclusion that they had done many things wrong from the beginning of their marriage and needed to completely start over with each other, learning and practicing how to give each other the kind of love they needed. All this being easily said but feeling impossible to do! The truth be told, it is impossible to fix some things without God’s help. It is only in yielding to Him at times when you want to scream that you keep things in check and continue to move forward. But, I do believe what Jesus said in Matthew 19:26. (NLT) “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

There are many things in the lives of people that get out off on a wrong footing or get out of whack. The funny thing is, so often, we keep doing the same things even with things are out of whack, which only makes them worse. We might think, “I am out of control here.” We might think, “My priorities are so messed up right now.” Someone might be saying, “Man, my eating habits are insane. I have to change this.” Another person starts out his or her day wanting to have one routine happen, but within seconds of getting up, stepping right into the same old wrong routine. What is up with that? Another person has been thinking about losing weight but seems to cave to everything put before them. That person would never let a two year old physically threaten them. They wouldn’t even be intimidated. That would be ridiculous. But they will be beat up by a piece of strawberry cheesecake that they caved to – over and over again. Again, “What’s up with that?”

This is why I love Psalm 25:6. “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, which you have shown throughout the ages.” and Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” These verses are telling us that God understands us. He understands we get out of whack. He is merciful and desires, from a heart of lovingkindness, to help us. He desires to help us new and afresh every morning. You know what that means? It means you have God’s supernatural help to throw out what you were doing yesterday and start over afresh today with a new plan.

Insanity is defined as repeating the same thing and expecting a different result. We don’t have to do the same thing. When things aren’t working, we shouldn’t do the same thing. We should say, “Okay Lord, this isn’t working and I need to take a new and fresh approach. Please help me with your supernatural help.” Get a plan from God and start it new the next day. If you didn’t nail it that next day, His mercy is fresh and new the following. Try again toward that fresh approach till you get it. But, LEAN ON HIS HELP!

This is why Jesus said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” He said it because He understands you. He is compassionate toward you. He is for you and not against you. He is merciful toward you. And He will help you! And if you don’t get it right today, He is not disgusted with you. He is faithful in His love toward you. You are His future success story. Don’t forget those words, “because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” If you didn’t get it right today, He’ll help you again tomorrow.

But, in all this, get serious! Throw out the old plan. Get His new plan. Write it down. Rehearse it before you go to bed and again the second you wake up. And sing about His tender mercies and loving kindness as you begin to walk it out!

So, to you I say, “YES YOU CAN. He’ll help you!” Now get to it!

Psalm 103:4 “He ransoms me from the pit and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt