I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 1st of January, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. First of all, I want to wish you a very happy New Year. A very peaceful New Year, a brand new start! We go to 2 Corinthians 5:17:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

What a beautiful promise from God! The Lord has brought us new life, it's a New Year - It's a brand new start, the old has passed away. I always love to say that the Lord has got a bad memory! When He forgives, He forgets! when you said, "Lord, remember what I did last year?" He says, "No, I don't remember. What did you do?" 

We need to press on. It's a new beginning; it's a new year! My dear friend, it's a new opportunity to start your life again. I'm going to pray with you in just a minute. We are going to pray together, you and I. We are going to ask God to forgive us for all the mistakes we made in 2023. We can ask him to 'clear the slate' and give us a new start. You know, I love to see new births, and being a farmer, I have a lot of opportunities to see that. Seeing a newly born calf, a newly-born lamb or a newly-born pony. A little foal that is born - it is quite something! I sit and look in amazement, as does its mother. You know that little calf, after its birth, his mum has a very rough tongue, and she'll come and clean him and make him so fluffy, new and sweet smelling. He stands up and staggers a little bit with those big eyes looking around. The first time he's seeing new life - That is how you and I will be this year. We're going to start again. We are going to put all those bad habits behind us. We will say, "Lord, give us a new beginning, please." A new kick-off, that's right! It's a brand new game, and the scores are on the board; we have already won the match, in Jesus Christ!

Please pray this prayer after me: 

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me a new beginning. Thank you, Lord, that I can see 2024. I never thought it would happen, but you've given me a new opportunity to make a new start. Lord, by your grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I thank you by Faith that

it is going to be the best year of my life so far! In Jesus' Name, amen. Happy New Year!