New Year Bible verses

A fresh start

1. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

   Isaiah 43:18-19

   Remember ye not the former things: Behold, I will do a new thing.

2. 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

   God's compassions are new every morning, written in the middle of a very hard season.

3. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

   2 Corinthians 5:17

   Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

4. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

   Philippians 3:13-14

   Paul forgets what is behind and presses toward the mark.

5. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

   Ezekiel 36:26

   A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit.

6. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

   Psalm 51:10

   Create in me a clean heart, O God, a prayer for a clean slate.

7. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

   Revelation 21:5

   Behold, I make all things new.

8. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

   Ephesians 4:22-24

   Put off the old man, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man.

Making plans and resolutions

The Bible encourages planning and also warns against assuming tomorrow.

1. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

   Proverbs 16:3

   Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

2. A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

   Proverbs 16:9

   A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

3. Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

   James 4:13-15

   Instead of announcing next year's plans, say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

4. Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

   Proverbs 27:1

   Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

5. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

   Luke 14:28

   Jesus' builder who sits down first and counts the cost, a good habit for any resolution.

6. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

   Proverbs 21:5

   The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness, while haste leads to want.

7. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

   Habakkuk 2:2-3

   Write the vision, and make it plain. In context it is a prophetic vision, but many people use it when writing down goals.

8. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

   Psalm 90:12

   Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, a good verse for the first day of a year.

9. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

   Psalm 139:23-24

   Search me, O God, a prayer for looking honestly at the year behind.

10. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

    Matthew 6:33

    Seek ye first the kingdom of God, a way to set priorities.

Keeping going after January

For habits, discipline and starting again when you slip.

1. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

   Daniel 6:10

   Daniel prayed three times a day, as he did aforetime: a habit already in place before the crisis came.

2. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

   Mark 1:35

   Jesus rose a great while before day to pray in a solitary place.

3. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

   Psalm 5:3

   In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, a simple daily rhythm.

4. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

   1 Timothy 4:7-8

   Exercise thyself rather unto godliness, which is profitable unto all things.

5. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

   Hebrews 12:1

   Lay aside every weight, and run with patience the race that is set before us.

6. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

   Galatians 6:9

   Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap.

7. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

   1 Corinthians 9:25

   Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.

8. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

   Proverbs 24:16

   A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, for the day a resolution breaks.

9. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

   Micah 7:8

   When I fall, I shall arise.

A blessing for the year ahead

Short enough for a New Year card or a toast.

1. The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

   Numbers 6:24-26

   The LORD bless thee, and keep thee, the Bible's best-known blessing.

2. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

   Psalm 65:11

   Thou crownest the year with thy goodness.

3. A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.

   Deuteronomy 11:12

   God's eyes are on the land from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.

4. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

   Psalm 90:17

   Establish thou the work of our hands upon us.

5. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

   Psalm 31:15

   My times are in thy hand.

6. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

   Deuteronomy 31:8

   The LORD, he it is that doth go before thee.

7. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

   Philippians 1:6

   He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it.

8. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

   Joshua 3:5

   Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you, said the night before Israel crossed the Jordan.