New Every Morning

Sunrise

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him’” (Lamentations 3:21-23).

We sometimes hear it said that each day is a gift. This is certainly true, yet we need to know why this is true. It is about more than the simple fact that we are still alive. Each day is a gift because of God and what He provides for us each day.

In the passage above, Jeremiah reflected upon the goodness of God even as he and the nation were going through severe suffering (hence the name of the book Lamentations). There was still evidence of God’s care for them and a reason to have hope if they would focus on Him more than their present troubles.

The same is true for us. We may face suffering and hardships, yet we still have reason to trust in God and have hope for the future. The Hebrew writer reminded his readers of God’s promise: “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus promised His disciples that He would be “with [them] always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

God’s ongoing care provided through His Creation is a testament to His power, wisdom, and love for all mankind. He promised Noah after the flood, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). Paul told the people of Lystra that God’s providential care was a “witness” to Him: “He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:16-17). Jesus told His disciples, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will be wear for clothing?’ …your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). Each day these blessings continue, reminding us that each day is a gift because “every good thing” is from God (James 1:17).

Once we appreciate the fact that God’s lovingkindness toward us is “new every morning,” how do we treat each day as a gift? There are a few things we should do:

  • Thank God for our blessings – Paul told the brethren in Thessalonica: “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). If all of our blessings are from God, we need to thank Him for them. Even when we are facing difficulties, we can still do this. Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Just as Jeremiah recognized God’s goodness while facing hardships, we can do the same and continue to give thanks to Him.
  • Recognize opportunities to do good – The blessings we have provide us with opportunities to to good to others. In writing to the brethren in Corinth about their contribution to aid needy saints in Jerusalem, Paul reminded them, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Corinthians 9:8). When we have been blessed beyond our needs, our abundance can be used as a blessing for others. This is why Paul told the Galatians, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Just as we receive blessings from God each day, we have the opportunity to do good each day.
  • Take advantage of the time we have to do better – We are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). God does not want us to stay as we are; instead, He wants us to conform to the image of His Son who provided us with “an example for [us] to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). This means that those who are not yet following Christ have the opportunity to turn to Him (Acts 17:30-31; 2:38). “Now is ‘the day of salvation’” (2 Corinthians 6:2) – today, not tomorrow. Those who have already started following Christ can use each day to become more like Him – to be “crucified with Christ” and conduct ourselves in a such a way that we can say that “Christ lives in [us]” (Galatians 2:20).
  • Make preparations for eternity – Again, Paul wrote, “Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’” (2 Corinthians 6:2). We know that the Lord will return, but we do not know when He will return (Matthew 24:36). Therefore, we must be ready at all times. Jesus said, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). When Jesus returns, He will bring the faithful home to heaven with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). We need to be making preparations – storing up “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20) – so that we can be among that number who will be saved.

There are other things that we could talk about regarding how to use each day as a gift. We did not even discuss matters of work, productivity, stewardship, physical health, or personal relationships. But the points we did cover – thanking God for our blessings, taking advantage of opportunities to do good, improving our spiritual health, and preparing for what comes after this life – are a good starting point.

Let us remember that each day is a gift because God is the giver of every good thing. And let us use each day in a way that honors Him.


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