Begin Again Every Day: A Powerful Rule of Life

Posted on by Michele Morin

Sunday Scripture

Two spiritual practices carried me through December 2020:

Each day, I took note of the sunrise, describing the way the light arrived and thanking God for sending the one True Light. Later, I would read a carol and write down one line that stood out to me. The big January surprise, in this season of looking backward in order to go forward well, is finding so many sunrises that went unobserved and so many chunks of time with no lyrics recorded.

Even so, I’m glad to have set the intention on December 1 and to have persevered imperfectly. Could it be that this is the rule of life we all live by, whether we mean to or not? We begin, not allowing ourselves to use imperfect execution as an escape hatch from trying!

In 2021, let’s begin, not allowing ourselves to use imperfect execution as an escape hatch from trying!

What spiritual discipline beckons to you from the realm of “impossible” on this January day? Are there habits of holiness you have embraced in the past–only to succumb to the mid-February Fizzle?

Begin again!

Resolve today to let God carry you into good routines–practiced imperfectly, but with perseverance. Let each day’s new beginning form the foundation of a vibrant and sustaining relationship with him.

Beginning again (every day!),

“His mercies…are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

77 thoughts on “Begin Again Every Day: A Powerful Rule of Life”

  1. Michele, it is so encouraging to be reminded we get to start anew each and every day. Each day His Scripture brings fresh insight and hope for the day. May we each look forward, and grab hold of, all God has for us in this new year.

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  3. Perfect words for January. They remind me of when my son was quitting smoking. He tried everything – gum, the patch, hypnosis, medication…they all failed. Until, one day, something stuck and he quit. All of my spiritual efforts are imperfect, but eventually, something sticks and I grow.

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  4. Several weeks ago or so you mentioned journaling through the hymns–writing about how a line or phrase speaks to you. How delightful that must have been to focus on the carols through December! I need to order some items anyway, and plan to purchase a new journal and join you in meditating on hymns–a new discipline for me in 2021. Thank you for the nudge to get started, Michele!

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  12. Beginning is what’s important. I’m glad you persevered and didn’t let perfectionism stop you in your tracks. A great way to enter the new year. Begin. Do it. If we fall off the wagon, get up, get back on and pick up where we left off. Grateful that God’s mercies are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness. Amen.

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    1. Getting back into the game takes humility, but it’s the best move. I want to persevere in the goals and plans for 2021, even though I know I won’t do everything exactly as I have envisioned it.

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  13. Routines practiced imperfectly, but with perseverance. Yes, that’s the key. Great reminder. Because there will be a February or August slump. And I need to just start again and persevere.

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  14. Michele, I love this intention that you set. I really do need to start writing in a journal every day to keep on track with my focus on perspective and gratitude. I lose my way so many times just in a single day that writing the things down would be super helpful in retraining my brain to focus on all the good rather than on the bad. Thanks for always inspiring me to be a better human!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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  16. Oh, Michele. How I love this. Being a recovering perfectionist, I have, at times, succumbed to the mantra, “If I can’t do it perfectly, why keep trying?” But you’re right. Establishing spiritual disciplines in my life is better done imperfectly than not at all. And God’s grace is so sweet. His mercies truly are new every morning And that in itself gives me the courage to persevere and try again, even after “failing.”

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    1. Your thoughts here remind me, Jeanne, of how much good even a little bit of God’s Word can do in a life. Five minutes of the pursuit of God, even imperfectly (impure motives, distractedness…), is potentially life changing!

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  18. Michele, I love the idea of sitting with an old hymn book and focusing on one line of a carol or a meaningful song. This adds additional joy and depth to devotional times. And that I always crave.

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    1. I just finished the carols section, so I’m back to where I left off at the beginning of December, and today’s line was “Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair.” Isn’t that a sweet usage of the word “repair” -> “frequent or habitual visiting?”
      Repair to be repaired.

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  19. This is a great reminder for a new year. It’s so easy to become discouraged if we don’t follow through with our intentions perfectly, but we will benefit a lot if we keep going even if we only manage 50% of the time. And I was thinking today about reflecting on the words of some old hymns – maybe this is something I should try this year.

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  21. This is such an important truth. If we don’t start things that we might fail in or fumble–we’ll never move forward. Usually, even if we don’t reach our goals, we get more done than we would with no goals.

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  23. We can always begin again–that’s welcome news in any context! It was already January 3 before I realized that the things I wanted to do everyday in 2021 were already 2 days behind. ha. So glad for those fresh mercies every morning!

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  24. Michelle,
    Thanks so much for stopping by!!
    Great post!!
    Happy New Year!!!
    Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  26. Hey, I love this so much, Michelle! Especially your idea of recording the sunrises … The last couple weeks I had run across (again) the words “I will awaken the dawn.” (Psalm 57:8) That is my desire. My execution needs some help but I press on!

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    1. Just to clarify, A Chance to Die is BY Elisabeth and ABOUT Amy Carmichael. The Elisabeth Elliot biography was written by Ellen Vaughn’s and is titled Becoming Elisabeth Elliot.
      Hope you enjoy either or both! 😁

      Liked by 1 person

  30. Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn

    Liked by 1 person

  31. “Resolve today to let God carry you into good routines–practiced imperfectly, but with perseverance.” Great encouragement for the new year! Thanks for sharing, Michele!

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  32. I am actually not drawn to the bible but did find myself on your blog from the pit stop. I found myself drawn to this statement: In 2021, let’s begin, not allowing ourselves to use imperfect execution as an escape hatch from trying! IThis really speaks to me. We should not stop trying just because something was not perfect.

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Happy New Year Michele and thank you for joining us for the first ever #MischiefAndMemories linky. We are working hard to persevere with home learning and working at the same time. Each morning, trying again where things might not have gone so well the day before. A new day, a fresh start, and it’s working.

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  34. Each day is a new page for sure… I am trying to concentrate on being present and forgetting about any stresses from the day before. Great to have you with us on the #MischiefsandMemories linky

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  35. Every new year is a chance to forget the past and look to the future . But we should remember we can seize that same opportunity every new day as well! Thank you for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories.

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  36. I will be honest and say I don’t really understand this, but feel it’s similar to not going to bed on an argument and treating each day as a fresh new day and being positive.
    Thanks for joining in with #PoCoLo Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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