Isaiah 43:18-19
"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."
Isaiah was declaring the Word of God to the children of Israel and saying although they were spiritually blind and could not readily perceive God’s plans of redemption, God still had big plans for them.
God was promising them and every man a new season of forgiveness, blessing and restoration. He was promising the children of Israel “a new beginning”. He was going to deliver them from the Babylonians who were their slave masters. He was going to deliver them from their oppressors.
I don’t know where you are right now in your walk with the Lord, what your spiritual state of mind is like at the moment. I might not know what challenges you are going through right now but what I know is that in 2016, God wants to do a NEW THING in your life.
Do not focus on the things that did not go well in 2015. Do not focus on the failures of 2015. Do not even camp around the successes of 2015. Do not dwell on the disappointments and achievements of past years. Poise yourself for what God has in stock for you in 2016 and beyond. It is a new day and a new season.
The Psalmist was able to sing praises unto the Lord because he knew that whatever he went through today was not going to influence or determine his tomorrow. So he says in Psalm 30:5,
"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning”.
The morning brings the start of a new day. The morning brings a new hope. A new beginning is a fresh start, a fresh opportunity. God is giving you a fresh start, a fresh opportunity in 2016. Take it and let God be the author and the finisher of your faith.
Paul writes in Philippians 3:7-9,
“But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whose sake I have lost all things.”
He goes on to say in Philippians 3:8-9, “I consider them rubbish [the word he uses literally means manure, dung] that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own, that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” All Paul wanted was, “I want to know Christ more and better.” That was his resolution.
This year determine to know Christ more, do not allow anything cloud the bigger picture of God’s plan for your life.
You can get to know Christ this year by spending time in His Word, going to Him in prayer, meditating upon His Word, and asking Him for help. Resolve to know the Lord by being in His Word every day—not just reading, but meditating upon His Word, personalizing His Word, making His Word part of your life, and obeying His Word. Resolve this year that you are going to serve God in every capacity because of who he is and His goodness to you and your family.
It’s a new beginning for you and your house!!!
