New Beginnings
The start of the new year gives us an opportunity to think about our lives and their purpose in God’s plan. We are not capable of doing anything new or worthwhile. Without God our existence is meaningless repetition of the same old stuff. The older we get the more we realise this. But God is a God of New Beginnings, and when we seek His will and purpose in our lives, we can look forward to a meaningful and fulfilling new year regardless of what it holds. The proof is in Scripture, in God’s blueprint for New Beginnings.
Through the Scripture
There is nothing new under the sun
Looking out into a new year seems to be a universal custom. How do you view 2026? Are you excited, sick and tired, anxious and afraid or bored? Solomon, David’s son and king of Israel was the wisest man that ever lived (apart from Jesus Christ). This is how he came to view the world, one of pointless repetition marked by an empty sense of purposelessness. Without God’s purpose, this is where we end up as well, but there’s another way to look out at the new year that lies before us. We may not be able to do anything new, but God can.
Ecclesiastes 1:8-9 ESV All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. [9] What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 ESV I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. [2] I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” [3] I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 ESV Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
God is the God of New Beginnings
God is faithful and the reason for our hope. A portion is an inheritance, first mentioned when God told the Levites that they would not get any land as an inheritance, because He would be their inheritance. When God is our portion, when He is our desire, we have hope, for new things. New mercy every day. New life in Jesus Christ. Eternal life in Jesus Christ - the ultimate New Beginning.
Lamentations 3:21-24 ESV But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: [22] The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; [23] they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. [24] “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
The New Beginning of Israel
Looking through Scripture, starting with Genesis we can see a remarkable pattern of New Beginnings. The phrase “the generations of” is used 11 times in Genesis and shows how God creates the world and a people called Israel. It also show how He makes eternal promises to them. The Hebrew word for generations is “Toleddot” and it’s use in Genesis is so remarkable that the book itself is named after it. The Greek word for “Toledot” is “Genesis”. These words carry the meaning of birth, beginning, generations and genealogy.
Genesis 2:4 ESV These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
Genesis 5:1 ESV This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.
Genesis 37:2 ESV These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
Jeremiah 33:25-26 ESV Thus says the LORD: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, [26] then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.”
The New Beginning of the Priesthood
In Numbers this “Toledot” phrase is used again in the announcement of a New Beginning for a priesthood, an eternal priesthood. God makes news things, and when He promises to keep them, we are assured that they will last forever.
Numbers 3:1 ESV These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
Jeremiah 33:17-18 ESV “For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, [18] and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”
The New Beginning of the Kingship
In Ruth we come across the next use of the same “Toledot” phrase “these are the generations of”. This time it introduced the New Beginning of God’s monarchy, the eternally promised Kingship starting with David.
Ruth 4:18-22 ESV Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, [19] Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, [20] Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, [21] Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, [22] Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
2 Samuel 7:12-13 ESV When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
The New Beginning that was planned for Eternity
The phrase never occurs again in all Scripture until the New Testament where it only occurs once, in the Greek form. The book of the genealogy (or generations) of Jesus. It connects Jesus to the covenant people of Abraham and the covenant Kingship of David. How could any human being plan or implement this remarkable pattern throughout Scripture across dozens of authors and over thousands of years? God’s Word proves to be His creation and shows how only He knows the end from the beginning. His plan culminates in Jesus but doesn’t end here. We look forward to a Millennial reign of Christ in Jerusalem, over Israel and served by His priesthood.
Matthew 1:1 ESV The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
1 Peter 1:18-21 ESV knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. [20] He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you [21] who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Ezekiel 44:15 ESV “But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord GOD.
Zechariah 14:4 ESV On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.
Daniel 7:13-14 ESV “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. [14] And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
The New Beginning planned and offered to us
The Millennial reign of Christ ruling as the Covenant King over the Covenant people and being served by the Covenant priesthood isn’t the end either and it doesn’t just include the people of the Old Covenant. It’s offered to us. The New Covenant of Jesus Christ calls us into God’s eternal plan, to participate in the Millennial Kingdom, and to reign with Him forever thereafter, but most importantly for us today, to begin all of this right now. God’s plan is to make all who believe in Him like Jesus.
Romans 8:28-30 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Revelation 20:2-6 ESV And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, [3] and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. [4] Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. [5] The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 21:1-5 ESV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” [5] And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Daily Devotions
Monday: Finding Purpose Beyond the Weariness of Human Effort
Reflecting on the futility of life without the divine purpose found in Jesus Christ and moving beyond meaningless repetition.
Today's Verse What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 ESV
Reflection The human experience is often marked by an empty sense of purposelessness and weariness. Solomon, the wisest of kings, found that wealth, pleasure, and even great learning could not satisfy the soul; everything seemed like a striving after wind. Without the singular purpose of God, life becomes a cycle of pointless repetition where nothing is ever truly new. However, Jesus Christ is the Creator who breaks into this futility. He does not just rearrange the old; He makes all things new. While we may try to find meaning in our own strength or self-belief, true fulfillment is only found when we align our lives with His eternal plan, which has been established from the beginning.
Additional Scripture
All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Ecclesiastes 1:8 ESV
I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. Ecclesiastes 2:3 ESV
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11 ESV
Life Application Consider where you are seeking satisfaction today—is it in your work, your possessions, or your own plans? Realise that these things, on their own, are temporary and will eventually lead to boredom or weariness. Intentionally lay down your "3 a.m. plans" and ask for the peace of knowing that His purpose for you is firm and eternal.
Prayer points
Pray for the grace to find your ultimate meaning in Him rather than in worldly toil.
Ask for the strength to turn away from futile repetitions and follow His specific call for your life.
Pray that He would renew your perspective, turning your weariness into hope.
Tuesday: Resting in the Faithfulness of Daily Mercy
Discovering hope and a new beginning every morning through the steadfast love of the Lord.
Today's Verse The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Reflection Regardless of how we feel about the year ahead—whether we are excited, anxious, or sick and tired—the faithfulness of the Lord remains the reason for our hope. His mercies are not a limited resource that ran out yesterday; they are freshly provided every single morning. When we make the Lord our "portion" or our primary inheritance, we find that our soul can hope in Him even in the midst of trouble. Jesus Christ is the ultimate manifestation of this faithfulness. Through Him, we have access to a relationship with the Father that never fails. Because He is faithful, we do not have to rely on our own ability to be perfect; we rely on His unchanging goodness to carry us through each new day.
Additional Scripture
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. Lamentations 3:21 ESV
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:24 ESV
Life Application Begin each morning this week by calling to mind His past faithfulness. Instead of waking up with the weight of yesterday's failures or today's worries, consciously declare that His mercies are new for you today. Let this truth settle your heart and give you the courage to trust His plan.
Prayer points
Thank Him for Your steadfast love that never ceases.
Pray that You would experience the reality of His "new mercies" in your specific circumstances today.
Ask for the grace to make Him your portion and the primary focus of your desires.
Wednesday: The Establishment of an Eternal Kingdom
Understanding God’s sovereign plan through the eternal promises made to the line of David.
Today's Verse When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 ESV
Reflection Throughout history, the Lord has been working out a magnificent pattern of new beginnings. He established a nation, a priesthood, and a monarchy, all with the promise that they would last forever. This was not a human invention but a divine blueprint. The kingship that began with David was intended to culminate in an eternal Ruler who would sit on the throne of Israel. This King is Jesus Christ. He is the one whose dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away. When we see the detailed way He has fulfilled these prophecies across thousands of years, we can trust that His current plan for us is equally secure and purposeful.
Additional Scripture
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron... Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. Ruth 4:18-22 ESV
“For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.” Jeremiah 33:17 ESV
If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant. Jeremiah 33:25-26 ESV
Life Application Reflect on the fact that your King, Jesus Christ, has an unshakeable throne. When earthly leaders or personal circumstances feel unstable, anchor your confidence in the fact that His kingdom cannot be destroyed. Commit to serving His kingdom first, knowing that His authority is eternal.
Prayer points
Praise Him for His sovereignty and the eternal nature of His kingdom.
Pray that your life would be a reflection of your submission to Him as King.
Ask for the wisdom to seek His kingdom and His righteousness above all earthly concerns.
Thursday: The Great Connection to a Single Divine Plan
Seeing how the "genesis" of Jesus Christ connects all of God’s promises to our current lives.
Today's Verse The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1 ESV
Reflection The phrase "the book of the genealogy" or "the generations of" is used throughout Scripture to mark new beginnings in God's plan. It began with the creation of the heavens and the earth, moved to the birth of the nation of Israel, the priesthood, and the kingship. Finally, it culminates in the New Testament with the genealogy of Jesus Christ. This connection is a miracle of divine engineering; no human could have planned this pattern over thousands of years and dozens of authors. It proves that there is only one God writing this message, and His plan always leads to Jesus. By believing in Him, we are invited into this same eternal plan that was foreknown before the foundation of the world.
Additional Scripture
These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. Genesis 2:4 ESV
This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. Genesis 5:1 ESV
These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. Numbers 3:1 ESV
Life Application Take comfort in the reliability of the Word of God. If He was faithful to fulfil such complex patterns to bring the Messiah into the world, He will be faithful to fulfil the promises He has made to you. Trust that your life is not a series of accidents but part of a grand design He has always intended.
Prayer points
Thank Him for the trustworthiness and truth of His holy Word.
Pray for a deeper understanding of how His ancient promises relate to your life today.
Ask for the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith in the singular plan of Jesus Christ.
Friday: Ransomed from Futility for a New Life
Recognizing the high price paid to move us from meaningless living into God’s eternal purpose.
Today's Verse knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV
Reflection We often inherit "futile ways"—patterns of living for ourselves, chasing temporary pleasures, or repeating the same mistakes as those before us. This kind of existence is a "slog" with no ultimate point. But we have been ransomed from this futility. The price was not silver or gold, but the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He was chosen for this mission before the foundation of the world and was made manifest for our sake. Through Him, we are no longer bound to the meaninglessness of the past. Instead, our faith and hope are now firmly placed in God, who raised Him from the dead. We are reborn into a life that matters for eternity.
Additional Scripture
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God. 1 Peter 1:20-21 ESV
But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok... shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer the fat and the blood, declares the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 44:15 ESV
Life Application Identify any "futile ways" or negative habits you have inherited or fallen into. Consciously remind yourself that you have been bought with a high price to be free from those cycles. Walk today in the dignity of a person who has been ransomed by the blood of Christ.
Prayer points
Thank Him for the sacrifice of His precious blood that has set you free.
Pray for the power to leave behind the futile ways of your past.
Ask that your daily life would reflect the high value He has placed upon you.
Saturday: Conformed to the Image of the Son
Trusting that all things are being used by the Lord to shape us into the likeness of Jesus.
Today's Verse And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:28-29 ESV
Reflection The Lord does not have a "plan B." He has worked out the end from the beginning, and He invites us into a plan that never fails. For those who believe in Jesus Christ, the goal of this plan is for us to be conformed to His image. This means that every circumstance—even the ones we "stuff up royally"—can be used by Him for our ultimate good and His glory. We are called to be new creations, born of the Spirit, with the power to love, obey, and have faith just like Jesus. He is the firstborn among many brothers, and we are being transformed into His likeness every day as we believe in Him and follow His purpose.
Additional Scripture
And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. Romans 8:30 ESV
And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion. Daniel 7:14 ESV
Life Application When things go wrong this week, try not to panic. Instead, ask the Lord: "How are You using this to make me more like Jesus?" Surrender your desire for control and trust that He is working out His perfect purpose in your life, even through the difficult moments.
Prayer points
Pray for a heart that is fully surrendered to His transforming work.
Ask Him to use every circumstance today to shape you into the image of His Son.
Thank Him for the assurance that nothing can thwart His "plan A" for your life.
Sunday: Anticipating the Final New Beginning
Living in the hope of the new heaven and the new earth where the Lord dwells with His people forever.
Today's Verse And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 ESV
Reflection God is truly the God of New Beginnings. His plan doesn't just culminate in the second arrival of Jesus and His Millenial Kingdom, or even in our transformation today; it reaches forward to a new heaven and a new earth. There will come a day when death, mourning, crying, and pain will be no more because the former things have passed away. In the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God will be with man, and He will wipe away every tear. This is the sure and final restoration promised throughout all of Scripture. We are invited to participate in this eternal kingdom, reigning with Christ and serving Him forever. This hope gives us the strength to face any challenge, knowing the end of the story is perfectly new and glorious.
Additional Scripture
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Revelation 21:1 ESV
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore. Revelation 21:4 ESV
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power... and they will reign with Him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:6 ESV
On that day His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east. Zechariah 14:4 ESV
Life Application Live today with an eternal perspective. Whatever pain or frustration you are feeling is part of the "former things" that will eventually pass away. Fix your eyes on the promise of the New Jerusalem and let the joy of your future with Him overflow into your interactions with others today.
Prayer points
Praise Him for the promise of a future where there is no more death or pain.
Pray that you would be a faithful witness to the newness that He brings.
Ask for the grace to live every day in the light of His glorious return and the new creation.