A New Year and A New Thing
This Sunday at church, someone shared out of Isaiah 43. It is a powerful passage, perhaps a familiar passage, and even a common passage to consider at this time of year. Here are a few highlights.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” “You are my witnesses declares the Lord”
“I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.” “I am the Lord, your Holy One”
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
“The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise”
Obviously there is much more to the chapter, but these portions have been sticking out to me as I’ve chewed on this chapter.
Please allow me to put these passages into context or language for today, and this new season.
Some helpful context before we jump in, passing through the waters to the Israelites referred primarily to two key moments. Their rescue from the Egyptians through the Red Sea, and the crossing of the Jordan into the Promised Land.
When we walk out of seasons of difficulty; or when by faith, we walk into new seasons of promise, God is with us. His goodness in our life is a picture to the world of His character.
He is God, He is Savior, there isn’t another one. He is Lord, He is holy.
Yet we can’t live on the past of what God has done already. God is doing something new today, He has tremendous plans for your immediate future, and for 2020.
Don’t you see it? Don’t you perceive it? When it’s Him, we can believe Him by faith that it will come to pass.
Where it seems difficult to come to fruition, He will work it out. Where it seems complicated, He will make it simple. Where it seems it’s too dry, He will bring forth springs. Where it seems like it’s a completely unknown season or terrain to navigate, He will let you know where to place your feet.
He made us, and a big part of why He made us, and walks with us in the manner He does, is that we might proclaim of His goodness, so the world would hear, and be drawn to our good and loving God!
Allow me to encourage you in this new season. God is indeed doing a new thing, for you and for me. Let us choose this new year to believe Him, by faith to follow Him. Whether it be out of a season of difficulty, or into a season of promise, He is faithful to do it. Our part, our joy, is to praise and proclaim the goodness of our God as we walk through it, so that everyone we meet, would hear about how God has been faithful.
Happy New Year! Excited to walk into this next season with you!
Daniel