Day 1 has arrived. The pressure for resolutions, the anxiety of the unknown, the weight of the past year… it’s a lot. The world shouts at you, “be better!”, “do more!”, “don’t mess up!”. But what if we started differently? What if, instead of a list of goals that might frustrate us, we focused on a single, powerful truth?
Today, we take the first step in a 365-day journey to strengthen our minds and spirits. Welcome to your daily devotional.
Day 1: The Blank Slate
“The past is a teacher, not a sentence.”
Key Verse: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Today’s Message
Think of the past year as a draft. It had successes, mistakes, crumpled pages, and maybe a few coffee stains. It taught you a lot, but it’s not your final masterpiece. Today, God doesn’t hand you an eraser to try to fix what’s already been written. He gives you something infinitely more powerful: a brand new book, completely fresh, with 365 clean pages, waiting for your pen.
The temptation to look at the old book and feel afraid of making the same mistakes is real. The voice of self-criticism whispers, “what if I mess it all up again?”. But the Creator’s promise is louder and stronger: today’s story doesn’t have to be a copy of yesterday’s. His mercy has wiped the slate clean. You have divine permission to write a completely different chapter, with new colors, new decisions, and a new perspective.
Today’s Challenge: The Ritual of a Fresh Start
Let’s make this physical. Take a piece of paper and write down one single thing (a habit, a feeling, a grudge, a fear) that you decide, today, to leave behind in 2025. Don’t overthink it; write the first thing that comes to mind. Now, crumple, tear, or shred this paper. Dispose of it in a way that feels symbolic to you. As you do this, feel the real weight lifting from your shoulders and the space opening up for the new.
Today’s Prayer
“Lord, thank you for this blank page and for the promise that Your mercy has wiped the slate clean. Today, I hand You my pen. I ask for wisdom not to repeat the same old scribbles of the past and for courage to write a story that honors You. May Your light illuminate every word and every step I take in this new cycle. I accept Your fresh start for me. Amen.”
Your new story begins now. If 2026 is a blank book, what will be the first word you write on page 1? Leave your word of intention here in the comments!
Reading Tip
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
