Theme of The Day: The Courage to Begin Again
Monday arrives like a second chance you’re terrified to take.
You know what happened last week. You remember how you failed. You recall the patterns you couldn’t break. You understand exactly why you’re skeptical about this week being different.
But here’s the thing about beginnings: they’re not about your track record. They’re about God’s character.
They’re not about your ability to change. They’re about His willingness to work with you anyway.
They’re not about whether you deserve another chance. They’re about whether you have the courage to take it.
Most of us don’t.
We let last week’s failures convince us that next week’s possibilities are false.
We let past patterns paralyze us from trying again.
We accept the lie that because we failed before, we’ll fail again.
But courage isn’t confidence that you won’t fail. Courage is the willingness to try despite knowing you might.
Courage is showing up for Monday despite what Monday looked like last time. Courage is reaching for a new beginning when your experience suggests it won’t work.
Monday asks: Will you be brave enough to begin again?
Will you let God’s character override your track record?
Will you accept the invitation to start fresh even though you know you might fail?
Today’s theme is about the brave choice to begin. Not just Monday. Moment by moment. The courage to keep choosing faithfulness even when faithfulness hasn’t delivered what you wanted yet.
Because beginnings are where transformation happens. And Monday’s your invitation to it.
Bible Verses Of The Day: Morning Study
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version (NIV)
Meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:17 and How to Apply It
Paul’s not talking about self-improvement or turning over a new leaf. The Greek “ktisis” for creation means something created, brought into being. When you’re in Christ, you’re literally a new creation.
“The old has gone” uses “parerchomai,” meaning passed away, departed, ceased to exist. Not improved. Gone. “The new is here” translates “ginomai,” meaning has come into being, appeared, been made.
This isn’t about your feelings or visible progress. It’s about your actual identity before God. In Christ, the old you with all its patterns and failures has passed away. The new you has been made.
This Monday morning, you’re probably feeling like the same person who failed last week. The same patterns are available. The same temptations are present. The same struggles feel inevitable.
But Paul’s saying your identity isn’t determined by your patterns. It’s determined by your position in Christ. You’re a new creation, whether it feels like it or not.
The old you isn’t trying harder. The new you isn’t just an improved version. It’s fundamentally different because you’re in Christ, and Christ makes all things new.
Apply this by releasing your identification with last week’s version of you.
That person who failed? That’s not who you are anymore. That’s the old creation that has passed away. You’re the new creation now.
Say it out loud: “The old me has gone. The new me is here. Not because I tried harder. Because I’m in Christ and Christ makes all things new.”
Write down one specific failure from last week. One pattern you’re afraid will repeat. One struggle you’re convinced is permanent.
Then speak 2 Corinthians 5:17 over it: “I’m a new creation in Christ. The old version that did that is gone. The new version is here. Same struggle, different me. Different identity. Different possibility.”
This isn’t a denial of the struggle. It’s clarity about who you are in the midst of the struggle. You’re not the same person. You’re the new creation. And new creations can respond differently than old creations did.
Pray: “God, help me believe I’m new in Christ. Help me stop identifying with my old patterns. Help me start living from my new identity even though the struggles feel familiar.”
Bible Verses Of The Day: Afternoon Study
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 New International Version (NIV)
Meaning of Romans 12:2 and How to Apply It
Paul’s instruction follows immediately after explaining what you are in Christ. Now he explains how to live like it. The Greek “syschematizo” for conform means to fashion according to, to shape to match. “Pattern of this world” refers to the current age’s way of thinking.
“Be transformed” uses “metamorphoo,” the root of metamorphosis. This is a fundamental change, not a minor adjustment. “Renewing of your mind” translates “anakainosis nous,” meaning making new your thinking patterns.
This transformation happens in your mind first. How you think determines how you live. When your thinking patterns change, your behavior follows. When you stop conforming to the world’s patterns and start thinking God’s thoughts, transformation becomes possible.
By Monday afternoon, you’re already encountering the world’s patterns. The comparison. The competition. The scarcity thinking. The fear. The shortcuts that seem justified. All the mental patterns that led you astray last week are still available.
But you have the power to renew your mind. To deliberately think differently. To actively reject the world’s pattern and accept God’s pattern instead.
This isn’t about trying harder with your old thinking. It’s about changing how you think, so your behavior naturally follows.
Apply this by identifying one mental pattern from last week that needs renewing.
Maybe it’s the thought “I can’t do this.” Maybe it’s “Nobody will notice anyway.” Maybe it’s “One more time won’t hurt.” Maybe it’s “I’ll never change.” Whatever the destructive thought pattern is, name it.
Then ask: what’s God’s thought about this instead? Not positive thinking. God’s actual truth.
“I can’t do this” becomes “I can do this through Christ who strengthens me.”
“Nobody will notice anyway” becomes “God sees everything I do.”
“One more time won’t hurt” becomes “Every choice builds or breaks my character.”
“I’ll never change” becomes “I’m a new creation and new creations can respond differently.”
Write the lie. Write the truth. Repeat the truth every time the lie shows up today.
This is renewing your mind. Not a one-time decision. Ongoing practice of thinking God’s thoughts instead of the world’s thoughts.
Say this: “I’m renewing my mind today. I’m replacing world’s patterns with God’s patterns. I’m thinking new thoughts so I can live new life.”
Bible Verses Of The Day: Evening Study
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 New International Version (NIV)
Meaning of Philippians 4:13 and How to Apply It
Paul’s not saying he can accomplish anything he wants through positive thinking. The Greek “ischuo” for can means to be strong enough, to have power, to be able. “Endunamoo” for gives me strength, meaning to empower, to make strong, to enable.
This is about enduring any circumstance through Christ, who strengthens. Not achieving dreams through willpower. Surviving challenges through divine empowerment.
The context matters. Paul’s talking about contentment in any situation, whether in plenty or in want. He can endure both because Christ strengthens him. Not his strength. Christ’s.
Monday evening is when you’re evaluating whether you can actually make it through the week. Whether you have enough strength. Whether you can sustain the changes you want to make. Whether you can actually resist the patterns that pulled you down last week.
The honest answer is probably: not alone. You don’t have enough strength. Your willpower isn’t sufficient. Your discipline won’t sustain you all week.
But that’s not the point. The point is, you have access to a strength that is sufficient. You can do all this through Christ who gives strength. Not from your reserves. From His unlimited supply.
Apply this by making a list of what you’re facing this week that requires strength you don’t naturally have.
The temptations that pulled you down before. The circumstances that usually trigger your worst responses. The people who test your patience. The situations that expose your weakness.
For each one, speak Philippians 4:13: “I can do this through Him who gives me strength. Not my strength. Christ’s strength. That’s available to me right now.”
This isn’t magical. It’s a partnership. You do what you can. He provides what you can’t. Together, you can face what would defeat you alone.
Say this tonight: “I’m not strong enough. But I can be strong through Christ. I can face this week. I can resist the patterns. I can make different choices. Not because of me. Because of Him. Through Him. With His strength.”
Rest knowing you don’t have to generate strength for the whole week. You just have to access it moment by moment. And that strength is available. Constantly. Reliably. Without limit.
Monday’s courage isn’t about believing you won’t fail. It’s about believing you can try despite knowing you might. It’s about accepting you’re new creation and living like it. It’s about renewing your mind with God’s patterns. It’s about accessing strength that isn’t yours but is available to you.
That’s enough. That’s actually everything. That’s Monday’s invitation.
Say This Prayer
God, thank You for Monday. Thank You for new beginnings. Thank You for the courage to try again despite last week’s failures.
Forgive me for identifying with my old patterns. Forgive me for believing I’m the same person who failed before. Forgive me for accepting the lie that I can’t change.
Thank You that I’m a new creation in Christ. The old me has gone. The new me is here. Help me live from that identity instead of my old patterns.
Teach me to renew my mind with Your thoughts instead of the world’s patterns. Help me replace the lies I believe with Your truth. Help me think God’s thoughts so I can live God’s life.
Thank You that I can do all this through You who give me strength. Not my strength. Yours. Help me access it. Help me partner with it. Help me face this week knowing I’m not alone and I’m not relying on my insufficient reserves.
Give me courage Monday through Friday to keep choosing. Keep trying. Keep believing I’m new creation capable of responding differently.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.