Take a moment. Imagine how dark, cold, and depressing winter might feel without the miracle of Christmas. Without the promise of a New Year. What if the winter season didn’t have holidays? What if the most wonderful time of year didn’t exist? What if you couldn’t receive God’s gift of a new beginning?

Winter, and life in general, would be bleak.

But we don’t have to wonder. Christmas is the most wonderful gift right in the middle of the darkest season. And not because we give gifts and decorate our homes. Not because of the music or cards or movies. But, because Jesus, the light of the world, was promised, born, and lived. He offers us a new beginning.

We often think about new beginnings in springtime, when the whole earth turns back to green and new growth is all around us. But God has given us the reminder of new beginnings throughout each year. New Year’s Day. Springtime and Summer. And Christmas. A birth and new beginning that changed the world.

Here are a few Bible verses about new beginnings, and how we can use them this moment to spur us to great things in our own lives, for the Glory of God, this New Year.

5 Verses of How God’s Promise of a New Beginning Changes Everything

1. God Keeps His Promises of a New Beginning. Long before Christ was born, He was promised. Prophets told of His birth. And God kept His promise.  
   “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).
2. He Makes Each of Us a New Creation. Through Christ’s birth, life, and sacrifice, God will make you brand new. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
3. He Came to Love, Heal, and Forgive. “Christ wasn’t just born. He lived. He loved. He healed. He forgave. And He died for us. “We can be forgiven of the old, and take on the new.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
4. Newness Brings about Joy and Hope. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3)
5. We Can Have a New Life & a New Response. Take your new life, as a new creature, and live for the Glory of God in the New Year. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Bottom Line

God has given us the greatest gift: a New Beginning through the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ. We celebrate it right smack in the middle of the darkest time of year.

And amazingly, He offers it every year, every month, every week, and every day. You don’t have to wait for Christmas. But, it’s an amazing thing to celebrate, with lights that represent the light of the world, trees that stand for the cross, and gifts that remind us of the greatest gift of all.

Move forward with your gift of a new beginning and a new life, this Christmas and New Year.