The New Thing
See, I am doing a new thing!
Have you ever desired new things? In the book of Isaiah, God speaks of new things in chapter 43:18-19 "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 desert and streams in the wasteland.” When I read this, it's like a big neon light flashing in front of me, “forget the past!” It's impossible to perceive the new thing when we are living in the past.
The past could be real hurts that are painful or even really great stuff that we are always comparing the now to the past. We can't even get to the new thing until we forget the former things.
New things can't happen with old thoughts!
God is wanting us to expect and see to perceive the new things. Why don't we see it? It is because of our thoughts; they must change from the old way of thinking into a new way of thinking.
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1 Peter 1:13 (NIV) “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Romans 8:6 “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
1 Corinthians 2:16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"
Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
God is wanting us to think from a place of victory, not thinking, “When my circumstances change, then I can have victory.”
God wants us to think from a place of grace, not thinking from a place of shame or that we must do to earn grace.
I don't know how they know this, but neuro-imaging at the University of Southern California says that we have 48.6 thoughts per minute and about 70,000 thoughts per day. The Cleveland Clinic says that 95% of our thoughts are the same thoughts repeated every day, and 80% of these habitual thoughts are negative. Wow, Isaiah did hear from God! Do not dwell on the past! The thoughts we believe and dwell on will determine the life we live. We will see the new thing when we allow Jesus to change our thought process from death to life, from the flesh to the Spirit, and from the past to the future that Jesus has promised us.
If you are wanting God to spring up that new thing, forget the past.
This is not denial of the past; it is choosing to position yourself for the new things that God has for you.
If you have been hurt, choose to forgive; if you have past failures, don't dwell on them.
Past failures don't mean that you are a failure. Think on this from Romans 8:37, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” God wants us positioned in our thinking for the new things. A readiness to respond to the new things is a place of the immeasurable power of Jesus; do you not perceive it? This is the power of faith--the anticipation of the supernatural new thing--and He is making a way in our circumstances (the desert). He is bringing Rivers of Living Waters to the dry and neglected areas of our lives (wasteland) and emotions and even our thoughts.
I love this part of the Isaiah 43 scripture that says, "I am making a way.” It's not me making a way; it's Him making a way. It's His nature to give us hope in Him and to move us from the past into the future of what He has for us: from sin to eternal life, from bondage to freedom, from fear to faith, from pride to humility, from hate to love, from doubt to trust, and from anxiety to peace. God says, "I am doing and I am making." (Oh, thank God it's not up to me)!
Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
My prayer today is that we move past to the past, and expect, anticipate, and look for with excitement and faith (Hebrews 11:1) the new thing that Jesus is doing in our lives.