“See, I am doing a new thing!” - Isaiah 43:19
Christmas brings a new freshness to our lives as we remember the birth of Jesus and what this gift means to the world. Many of us end the year with new things—new toys for the kids, new clothes (not always the right color or size, but still new), and new pounds from all the holiday goodies. Each of us can start the year off with a new beginning, a new calendar on the wall, new bills to pay, and new resolutions for the New Year.
Everybody likes new things, including God. In Isaiah 43:13, we find that God refers to himself as Ancient of Days, existing before days were made. With this reference of Ancient of Days, He says, “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.” God begins His book in Genesis with the story of His creating a new world; He ends it with His plans to make a new heaven and new earth in Revelation.
Our heavenly Father wants to do new things in the lives of His children. He desires to teach us new truths about Himself, provide new opportunities for ministering to others, take us to higher levels of worship and deeper levels of trust. But too often we can be like the Israelites when they were traveling in the wilderness.
God promised to provide for them by raining down bread from heaven six days a week. He instructed them to gather only enough manna for each day, except for the day before the Sabbath when they were allowed to store up enough for two days. When some of the people disobeyed and tried to hoard extra manna, it became rotten and full of worms by the next morning.
Sometimes we may try and hang on to yesterday’s stale manna but God wants to do fresh new things in our lives. It can be a challenge to try new things when we hold on to things that are comfortable and familiar. We may miss those new and exciting things God has planned for us if we don’t fully trust His guidance, even when He seems to be leading us down unfamiliar paths.
One of the best ways to keep our faith fresh and new is to develop a habit of daily Bible study. God’s Word is timeless—old and new at the same time. Just as God’s “compassions are new every morning”, Lamentations 3:22-23, studying His Word can give us new understanding, fresh insights, and renewed strength. Create a routine that will foster a closer walk with God.
We rejoice along with Paul as he declares, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17. If we need motivation to live like a new creation, God has provided two keys in His Word. It’s important to look back to the New Covenant, the source of our salvation. We can meditate on Hebrews and thank God again that the sacrifice of Jesus made “a new and living way” for us to enter His presence, Hebrews 10:19-22. And we also keep looking forward to our future by reading Revelation. We can find comfort in thinking about the time when God will right all wrongs, heal all hurts, and give us a new name and a new home.
As we celebrate the New Year let us let go of anything that has gone stale or rotten, that has held us back and put it in the past. Then we will be free to live each day expecting new, fresh things from the One Who promises, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5.
Prayer
Lord, create in us a clean heart and a right spirit that we may be made new through You. You have the power to make all things new. Mold us and make our life Yours. We ask these things in Christ’s Holy Name, Amen
My love and prayers,
Ann
