IT is Never to Late for a New Beginning – Devotions From the Edges – Following Jesus

Before Anything Else –

Pastor Calvin Cook

February 2, 2026

Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me words of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Before anything else today – can we just take a moment and pause before God and say “Today, Lord before anything else, I will pause before you and seek you to know the way I should go.”

I know that is a big ask and probably already as you read this is to late because our minds have already been bombarded by a myriad of beeps, dings, messages, and distractions. We just took a quick moment to see what Aunt Wilma is doing, how cold it is in Hawaii, and what the latest great recipe is. Our minds have already drifted off to our daily “I need to do this” and today with all of it’s new requirements, needs, and distractions have caused our beginning moments of the day with God to be squeezed in as either a cry for help or a passing theme with the words “God is good” without even pausing to know what surrender and sacrifice is all about.

And yet patiently God has been waiting. Waiting for each day that God has given us to make God our top priority in our life. I know what some might be saying, because I have said it myself. I read or write my devotional, I say my prayers, I do things for God but truly is our doing and being with God an act of compliance or an act of desire to be and spend time in desiring to be present with God.  And yet once again God is waiting.

The other idea that we have to labor over is purpose. The heart of Psalms 143 is about relationship with God, direction, and how we should live our life. I want to challenge you to sit with your Bible open, mark the verses that become prayers for this day and be drawn closer into God’s will for your life.

Knowing this my friends we are not a mistake. We are the beloved of God we just need in our busy worldly controlled lives to pause before anything else and pray – “Bring me word of your unfailing love, because I have put my trust in you, show me the way.” Today might be late but tomorrow is a new day that has been given to you and might be a good place to start.

I’m thankful for a God that gives us new beginnings, but it should cause us to experience redemption and never return to the things that are destroying us. 

May the peace that Christ brings reign in your heart and guide your day.