Isaiah 43:18, 19 - A Fresh Beginning.
Isaiah 43:18, 19: A Fresh Beginning.
Isaiah 43:18, 19 (NKJV) "Do not remember the former things, Nor
consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall
spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the
wilderness And rivers in the desert.
COMMENTARY PEARLS
Reading the Bible, you can easily get caught up in what God
accomplished long ago. You think of the Red Sea parting and the Israelites
crossing it on dry ground. You think of King Solomon with his vast
wisdom. You think of the apostle John, sitting close enough to Jesus to
see Him breathe, to look right into His eyes. Yes but ... what
about the mighty things He's doing in your life today? You may not see
an ocean part, but think of the way He has made for you through
impossible circumstances. You may not have the wisdom of Solomon, but think
of the times when He gave you a cutting-edge insight at just the
right moment. You may not see Jesus with your physical eyes, but you
have God's own Spirit making His home within you. Today's Scripture
reminds us that He's doing something new in your life, something mighty.
Open your eyes to see it.
Lord, forgive me for thinking Your mighty works are in the
past or imagining Your best plans for my life have already come and
gone. Open my eyes to what You are doing in and around me this very
day. Help me not to miss the stunning miracles taking place at work,
at home, in my neighborhood, and in my city. [A Spectacle of Glory
by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby]
God uses events in our lives to shape us, to teach us, to
grow us - and some of the key events are those sparked by sin (our
own or someone sinning against us), by our missteps, by our
confusion. Memories of the past, therefore, can too easily feel like
shackles holding us to failures, regrets, ignorance, foolishness, and
sin.
However, God doesn't want us bound to our past. When God
saves us from the death we deserve for our sin, He frees us from the
guilt and shame of our former life as well. He gives us a fresh
beginning. He frees us to receive every good thing He wants to give us. If
your past feels like a wilderness, know that God wants to make a road
through it, perhaps to help you navigate the difficult years and salvage
the good.
If your past feels like a desertland of death, know that God
will make rivers of redemption flow as He brings beauty out of ashes.
Embrace the fresh beginning God wants to give you. [Being Still With God
Every Day by Henry Blackaby]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Leave The Past Behind
It's easy to say don't dwell on the past, but sometimes the
past seems stubbornly present. You don't have to be stuck there. One
thing you can do is tell your story to a trusted person who will
listen and pray for you. Pray that the wounds of the past will heal
rather than hold you back in the present. The Bible says, "Ask boldly,
believingly, without a second thought" (James 1:6 MSG).
Another thing you can do is examine the ways the present is
different from that painful past. Identify things that are different now,
and thank God for them. Thank him for the good people in your life.
Thank him for your church family or your small group. Thank him for
the knowledge about how to be healthy that you have now. Thank him
for the resources he's put in your life to help you change. Thank
him for his love that never fails. He is with you now, delivering
you from the prison of the past.
The past is past. Your future is in the hands of a loving
God. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional]
Do not dwell on the past, beloved. You can learn from the
past, but don't let it become your focus. You cannot undo things that
have already occurred, no matter how much you may yearn to do so.
Instead of wishing for the impossible, come to Me and pour out your
heart. Remember that I am your Refuge; trust in Me at all times.
Reinforce your confidence in Me by saying frequently: "I
trust You, Jesus." Uttering those four words can brighten your day
immediately. Dark clouds of worry are blown away by simple, childlike trust.
I am doing a new thing! Be on the lookout for all that I am
accomplishing in your life. Ask Me to open the eyes of your mind and heart so
you can see the many opportunities I've placed along your path.
Don't fall into such a routine that you see only the same old things -
and miss the newness. Remember that I can make a way where there
appears to be no way. With Me all things are possible! (Isa. 43:18, 19;
Psa. 62:8; Mat. 19:26) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! As you
begin a fresh year, rejoice that I am continually working newness into
your life. Don't let recent disappointments and failures define you
or dampen your expectations. This is the time to make a fresh
start! I am a God of unlimited creativity; expect Me to do surprising
things in this year that stretches out before you.
Today is a precious gift. The present moment is where I meet
with you, beloved. So seek My Face throughout this day that I have
made. I have carefully prepared it for you - with tender attention to
every detail. I want you to rejoice and be glad in it.
Search for signs of My loving Presence as you journey along
the path of Life. Look for the little pleasures I have strewn
alongside your pathway - sometimes in surprising places - and thank Me for
each one. Your thankfulness will keep you close to Me and help you
find Joy in your journey. (Isa. 43:18, 19; Psa. 118:24; 16:11) [Jesus
Always by Sarah Young]
ILLUSTRATION
Frozen in the Starting Block
A runner jogs in place, warming up for the big race. He
places his feet in the blocks, poised to shoot forward. He shakes one
hand and then the other, getting loose before positioning his fingers
on the track before him. He listens for the announcers words -
Ready! Set! - and then the starting gun fires! The other competitors
shoot forward, but he is frozen in his spot and can't move. He never
even starts the race. What a tragedy that could be!
When we allow ourselves to be consumed with the past, it's
like we're frozen in the blocks, unable to run our race in the
present. I spent many years wishing my past had been different, going
over it and over it in my mind. That rearview perspective kept me
from living out my present and investing in my future.
The problem facing the frozen runner is pride. It's the
reason many people never start the race and many others never finish.
They are too proud to admit they need help. Instead, they rehearse
the past, hoping to find a way to blame someone or something else
for their trouble.
Letting pride keep us in denial is a costly exercise that
shuts us out of the race. But God tells us that if we humbly bring our
past to him, he will take our past and forgive it, renew it, and
restore it. Then we can run our race to win!
Thank you, Father, for providing all that I need to move
forward with my life. Poised with my feet in the blocks, I'll focus on
you rather than my past. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery
Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
