Joyce Meyer - You Can Begin Again: No Matter What, Its Never Too Late

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

History (with a touch of folklore) tells the story of Great Britains larger-than-life prime minister, Winston Churchill, boldly delivering a one-sentence speech to his countrymen. Legend has it that Churchill stood before a hushed crowd during the darkest days of World War II and boldly declared: Never, never, never, never give up. He then turned and sat down, confident those six words were enough.

Though historians record that Churchill actually offered a few more paragraphs that day, it was this one bold sentence that stuck in the minds of the struggling, battle-weary citizens. Never, never, never, never give up!

As a minister of the Gospel for nearly 38 years, Im used to standing in front of crowds, but I have to admit, Ive never given a one-sentence sermon. I have a feeling those who come to hear me might not be as impressed as the British crowd that daythey might expect a little more.

But if I were bold enough to give a one-sentence message right nowif I had only a few seconds to share with you one idea that might change your lifeheres what I would say:

Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever youve been through, its never too late to begin again.

I believe this one sentence is more than a speech or a sermon; it is one of the core messages of the Bible. Regardless of your past failure or your present struggle, God offers you a new beginning. Fresh starts arent the exception; theyre the rule. We see them all throughout the Word of God. For example:

Far from his potential, wandering on the back side of the desert, Moses is called to lead a nation. Fresh start!

A victim of her reputation, known only as the harlot, Rahab is rescued and given a noble name in the lineage of Christ. Fresh start!

Stuck in a dead-end job tending sheep, David is anointed the next king of Israel. Fresh start!

Widowed, alone, and with nowhere to go, Ruth is given a brand-new, better-than-imagined life. Fresh start!

Ashamed, having given in to fear and denied the Lord, Peter is forgiven and inspired to preach at Pentecost. Fresh start!

Caught in a trap of dead religion, persecuting the early Christians, Paul is transformed and called to write much of the New Testament. Fresh start!

Do you see the pattern? Time after time, story after story, page after pageGod offers a new beginning, and His people make the most of it. The circumstances change, and the stories vary, but the grace of God never wavers. God always offers a new chance. A new opportunity. A new life.

However, as I travel from city to city, preaching the Word, I meet many individuals who are still living in darkness. For some, its a darkness of painhurt has them frozen in their tracks, groping for answers. For others, its a darkness of disappointmentlife hasnt turned out how they planned, and they feel lost and unsure. Still for others, darkness comes as a cloud of loneliness, fear, boredom, uncertainty, worry, or despair.

It is my hearts desire to see people set free and living the new, overcoming, joy-filled life that Jesus came to give them. I know firsthand how freeing this can be. You see, not only have I met people stuck in uncertainty, Ive been stuck there a time or two myself. I know what its like to be so worried youll either do the wrong thing or, just as bad, do nothing at all.

I imagine youve experienced this feeling before too. It seems that we all have, at one time or another, stared at a roadblock in life and wondered, Is this it? Am I finished? Should I give up? What do I do now? But Scripture tells us the Word of God is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). This means that no matter how dark your surroundings, you never lose your way. God will guide you to your destinyits never too late.

Here is the key: You have to take a step. New beginnings dont happen on an escalator, they happen along a path. In faith, you make progress by taking one step at a time. If you are determined to succeed in life, Gods grace will enable you to do what may seem impossible to your natural thinking. God has promised to do His part, but you have an important part to play as well.

If you know what its like to be far from your potential; to suffer from a less-than-stellar reputation; to find yourself stuck in a dead-end job; to feel abandoned or alone; to live with regret or shame; or just to wonder what your next step might be, let this book be a new beginning for you.