Scripture for Today: Lamentations 3:22-23 “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.”

Happy Chinese New Year!  Being that my husband is half Chinese, we enjoy getting together with family and delighting in all the special foods.  The Chinese Lunar calendar sets the beginning of months based on the new moon.  According to the Chinese zodiac of twelve animals, this is the year of the rat.  Because it is associated with the hour before and after midnight, the rat in particular stands for new beginnings.

Today’s verse is my favorite one when thinking about beginning again.  Because of the Lord’s great love for us, we can experience new beginnings, not only with the new year but with each new morning!  He is faithful to renew His compassion for us each and every new day.  He never fails us and this is why we can have hope (verse 21).  We can be assured that the Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him (verse 25).  His compassion faithfully expresses itself every morning of every day.

On waking in the morning, I have the sure hope of His goodness, His love and His compassion for me.  The fact that I even woke up is a grace from Him!  And I will never exhaust His endless eternal supply of compassion.  This means a second chance with each new day!  What other love can promise that?  His love reaches to the heavens and His faithfulness to the skies! (Psalm 36:5)  Just as each day is new, so is His compassion new and not just leftovers from the previous day nor a simple continuation.  Every morning He knows just what I am feeling and facing that day.

Thank you Lord, for Your deep compassion for me.