A New Journal

[bluidkiti]

A New Journal

Philippians 3:10-14 - that I may know [Jesus] and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this... But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

I love journals and nice notebooks. I enjoy writing out my thoughts and then transferring them to the computer. When I first get a new journal, I marvel at the white, empty pages, and I visualize them filled with my thoughts. How long, I wonder, will it take to fill an entire journal? I'm elated and filled with anticipation of the words I'll write to express my thoughts.

When the pages are empty, they are filled with promise. There are endless opportunities awaiting my pen on the fresh, blank pages. Will I produce a masterpiece on these pages? It is a new beginning. Like Paul, I shall forget the many failures I've written in journals before and focus on what lies ahead to be written on these new pages. Again, I feel the call of the Holy Spirit to write -- to pour forth words that will inspire others to believe and to follow Jesus also.

Jesus is the author of second chances. He died for us and rose again so that we could understand the resurrection -- that we also can be resurrected to new life in Him. He gives us new life and new opportunities, and fills our hearts to overflowing with hope and optimism.

Filled with our new courage to turn loose our past defeats, we can look ahead and move on.

Prayer: Lord, pour out Your words onto the pages of our journals; give us fortitude to bring these words forward from the pages and weave them into minds and hearts. Energize us to put them into service for You in Your kingdom. Use us, Lord, as Your vessels. Amen.

Ivie Bozeman