A New Thing by Mayada Naami
“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, NIV)
This Scripture reminds us that God is a God of new things; to let go of the past and look forward to the new opportunities that He is bringing in our lives. I was reminded of new beginnings when I arrived in Toronto, Canada yesterday to visit my family and saw the most beautiful tulips in full bloom. I thought to myself, How faithful our God is to bring back to life these beautiful flowers year after year. What once was seemingly dead, was rejuvenated, standing beautiful and tall.
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
(John 7:37-39, NIV)
Like the tulips, I too need the light of the world—Jesus and living water—Holy Spirit, for me to bloom year after year. If the tulips can survive a cold Canadian winter and still stand beautifully tall, then I certainly can survive a difficult season in my life knowing that He is doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:18) and is working ALL things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
(Jeremiah 17:7-8)
Do you dwell on the past and lose sight of what God is doing in this spring season of your life?
Lord, thank you for encouraging me to let go of my past experiences and to embrace new opportunities and blessings in my life.