The Hope of New Beginnings

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

As we move on from celebrating Easter, it is easy to lose sight of the hope Easter provides. It is easy to lose zeal for the victory Christ claimed through his death and resurrection after the credits roll. But if we look back to Biblical times, we remember this time in the life of the early church was far from its happily ever after. Every leap of faith those new Christians took during this time was vitally important in light of Christ’s Kingdom and spreading the Gospel message. It was the beginning of new beginnings—a season of uncertainty with steadfast hope and sole certainty rooted in Christ. May it be so in our hearts and lives.

Motherhood is likely in full swing for you—kids are back in school, after-school activities are roaring, homeschooling has commenced, or if you're a mom of babies and toddlers, the pressure is back on you. Let’s reframe our thoughts so as not to return to their old patterns. Instead, let’s think of this week as a reset, a new beginning. 

New beginnings are exciting! New beginnings carry momentum. Let’s set some personal, spiritual goals to achieve and get in God’s Word. Let’s pray and refocus our minds through memorizing and meditating on scripture. 

One new thing I’ve been doing lately is “scripture mapping.” It is reading the Bible and stopping when I come across a verse that reminds me of another verse somewhere else in scripture. When this happens, I jot down the verse and Google where the other verse is located if I’m unsure. Once I find the verse, I write it down next to the original verse and connect the two with an arrow. It’s pretty simple, but I love doing it because it cements the verse in my heart and is a practice of active meditation.

I know your time is limited, but God’s Word and scripture will energize your life! Whether it’s scripture mapping, Bible journaling, memorizing verses, journaling prayers, or scripture breathing, there are plenty of creative ways to meditate on God’s Word. Let’s think of this week as a new beginning in our lives, as a time we can dig into God’s Word, get real about prayer, and encourage those within our sphere of influence.

You are doing great, Mama!