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. — Lamentations 3:22-23

I love and get extremely excited about several things — and one of them is birthdays.

I love birthdays. I love celebrating other people’s birthdays, hunting down the perfect yet affordable gift, sharing a big overpriced meal and, yes, selfishly I love when mine comes around.

One of the main reasons I love my birthday is because it is when I sit back and reflect on what this past year has looked like, and what I hope for in the coming year. It represents letting go of the mistakes I’ve made — the things I want to part with and the bad habits I want to give up.

It also allows me to dream of what I want more of in my life. For me, it is a fresh start and a new beginning.

And, let’s be honest: We all are in need of fresh starts and new beginnings.

The wonderful part about Jesus is that he gives us a fresh start every day. Every morning the sun rises and God is calling us to deeper places, giving us a chance to start again.

Every time the sun rises, his love, wisdom and forgiveness are waiting for us. His mercies are new every morning.

Maybe the last school year was the best year ever for you, or maybe it was the hardest. Either way, now is your chance to reflect on what should remain in the past and pray for what you want this year to be filled with.

No matter what happened last year, you get a clean slate and a blank page today. So, as you take the time to reflect today, I would challenge you to think about what you want to leave behind and what you need more of this school year.

His mercies are new every morning. Pray with me:

Lord, help me to leave what is in the past in the past. I ask for a fresh start today and for this school year. Would you please reveal to me the things that are toxic in my life that I need to leave behind, and give me eyes to see what you want this year to be about? Thank you for your faithfulness, that you never give up on me. Thank you for new beginnings. Amen.

Are you ready to start the new school year fresh and renewed? Remember that God has a plan for each of us; we just need to put our trust in him and listen. Get tips for staying connected to Jesus during your college years. Learn more about campus life at GCU and fill out the form on this page for more information.