A New Thing

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18‭-‬19

This was a word for the Israelites at a very difficult time in their lives. They were in captivity once again for their stiffneckedness. The word was to assure them that God had something better in store for them and to encourage them not to let their past hold them back from seeing the current move of God. In order for them to be able to embrace the new thing God was doing, they had to change their focus. They had to look forward and not dwell on the past.

Israel’s past was not all bad. Yes, their past consisted of slavery in Egypt but also the crossing of the Red Sea; the miraculous provision in the dessert; the many victories; the capturing of the Promised Land etc. When we read these verses we usually think of the pain, bitterness, bad experiences, etc from our past and how they can hold us back from moving forward.

This scripture is about more than that. Some good things that happened in our past can also imprison us or blind us from seeing or perceiving the better things God wants to do for us. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it right? Wrong. God is always moving; He is a forward-moving God. His mercies are new every morning. We do not want to miss His next move because we are comfortable in what He did for us in the past. We must not build monuments and shrines around how He moved in our midst yesteryear.

This happens not only in our lives but also in our churches. Many miss out on a new move of God because they are so steeped in a certain culture or clinging to some spiritual event that happened several years ago. It felt good, it was unique and mind-blowing at the time and though God is doing more wonderful things now, those churches have failed to move with Him.

God has already moved forward and is doing even more amazing things while you hold on to the past for dear life. Why settle for great when you can be greater? Let us pray that God will open our eyes so we can perceive the new thing He is doing in our lives, in our churches and around us so we can be a part of it.

Blessings.

Love,
Lady Monica ❤