Do you ever wish you could have a do over? Start with a clean slate?

When my family moved to Arizona in 1999, we left the Lorain Branch in Ohio. It was my senior year of high school—not the best timing for a 17-year-old.

At one of the meetings in Lorain before the move, a sister told me to look at this move as an exciting opportunity. “No one knows you, and you can start fresh.” She didn’t say that because my current life was troubled, but she was trying to lift my spirits. 

The Lord brought that conversation back to my mind recently. I immediately thought, with the Lord, every day we are given on this earth is another opportunity to start fresh. 

Isn’t that exciting?! 

The song “Is Your All on the Altar?” came to me shortly after remembering the conversation.

Refrain:

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?

Your heart does the Spirit control?

You can only be blest,

And have peace and sweet rest,

As you yield Him your body and soul.

Starting fresh can only be done if we give it all to the Lord.

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

His mercies are new every morning! Praise God!

My move to Arizona proved to be soul-saving for myself, and I learned so much about the Lord and the church. I did start new during that time of my life. 

Unbeknownst to me at the time, I would have several more moves after the one to Arizona. I tried to start fresh each time, but not always to reinvent myself. I started fresh with my outlook. What can I gain from this experience? How can I be purposeful in this new place?

Sometimes we don’t need the new day because we failed miserably the prior day. New days are also opportunities to prove the Lord to other people, to find your place in the space of the day that the Lord has for you. 

I am thankful for new days. I am thankful for the chances to reinvent, and also the opportunities to shine. 

Full lyrics of “Is Your All on the Altar?”

You have longed for sweet peace,

And for faith to increase,

And have earnestly, fervently prayed.

But you cannot have rest,

Or be perfectly blest,

Until all on the altar is laid.

Refrain:

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?

Your heart does the Spirit control?

You can only be blest,

And have peace and sweet rest,

As you yield Him your body and soul.

Would you walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word,

And have peace and contentment alway?

You must do His sweet will

To be free from all ill–

On the altar your all you must lay. [Refrain]

Oh, we never can know

What the Lord will bestow

Of the blessings for which we have prayed,

Till our body and soul

He doth fully control,

And our all on the altar is laid. [Refrain]

Who can tell all the love

He will send from above,

And how happy our hearts will be made,

Of the fellowship sweet

We shall share at His feet

When our all on the altar is laid! [Refrain]

©1900 E.A. Hoffman 

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.