NEW. This word has been playing over and over and over again, in my mind. This is my God-revealed word for 2018! An innocuous word at first glance, short and sweet, just 3 letters. but WOW! So power-packed with meaning and hope and promise! I have several friends who will be welcoming new babies in 2018, and all the joy and “newness” that will bring to them. Such exciting times! My big kids are wearing new clothes to school, today, and I’ve been trying to keep the little girls out of their new clothes so they are still clean enough to wear when school starts! Kids…and grown-ups…with new Christmas toys to enjoy. New goals and renewed focus as another year begins.
I am praying through exactly why God chose this word for me, this year. I know some things…new experiences for my kids. One with a new job and new responsibilities; one about to begin another new year of life with the passing of another birthday; one tackling some new battles and exciting changes as we get results of various physical and academic tests; and one starting gymnastics lessons, a HUGE HUGE thing for this child! We are striving for new levels in self-care, nutrition, finances, business, emotional healing, relationship healing, etc. I have started this new blog which, I think, will be a catalyst for new things God has for me to do. I’ve started my YouTube channel to minister to hurting people and parents, and to share things God is teaching me. There’s a book “seed” within me, waiting to be watered. I’m not sure what God is up to, but it’s NEW…and I’m embracing it!
Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “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 dessert.”
This isn’t just for me! This is for all of us! Do we perceive it? Are we open to what new things God wants to do in our lives? Have we been trying to put God in a box, when what we need to do is throw off the lid of the box, and let Him kick down the walls?
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
This isn’t just for a few, but for ANYONE who is in Christ Jesus! IF you are in Christ, you ARE new! It’s a promise! Now, do we often choose not to allow God to make us new? Do we choose not to accept the freedoms and newness He freely offers so we can continue to walk in the “comfort” of our discomfort? Yes, but it’s not what God desires for us!
Something else just occurred to me! In both of these verses, there is a common word…”Behold!” The dictionary explanation of behold is to see, perceive, or observe…often something exciting or impressive. To me it says, “LOOK! Pay attention! See what I am doing! It’s new! And it’s for YOU!”
My challenge to us, today, is to behold the new things God is doing in us…and around us, through us, and sometimes in spite of us…in this new year! May God bring new life, focus, joy, health, endeavors, and adventures our way in 2018!
Dear Jesus, we come to you this morning to be renewed. We come to behold what you are doing in our lives to transform us through the renewing of our minds. We come with expectation of newness in this new year! We each have our own things that need to be new…priorities, thoughts, attitudes, opportunities, relationships, ministries, focus, dependence on you in all things..and we lay them all at your feet and ask you to make them new. Help us, Father, to behold that which you are trying to change or create for us. Help us to be willing to follow you and be transformed by you in YOUR way, as you see fit…even if it’s painful at the time or doesn’t make sense to our finite human minds. Help your thoughts become our thoughts and your ways become our ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen!