He Is Doing A New Thing

It's a new year, and I am excited to see what God has in store. Is there a door that God is opening for you? A new opportunity that requires you to step through in faith, trusting the Lord to guide your every step. Maybe you feel like you were thrust through the door when you weren't ready, like the death of a spouse or your marriage ending in divorce. Perhaps a new job or ministry opportunity is placed before you, and your hand hesitates on the door handle, wondering if you should walk on through. Maybe you feel a gentle tug on your spirit, calling you to come and know the One who created you and calls you by name.

The last few years have been a succession of changes. Some changes broke me, some were necessary, and some brought joy. God was there every step of the way, and during it all, I heard Him calling me to come and know Him better. There were times I wrestled with God, trying to tell Him how I thought He should do things. This only led to anxiety and discontentment. It was when I stepped back and chose to trust in Him that peace came. He stepped in and worked things out according to His plan. He has been sifting and pruning me, which is not always a pleasant process, but it is necessary. There has been an internal shift in me, a new understanding of what it means to seek Christ. When you shift your focus away from your circumstances and all the things you think you need to do, and instead focus on Christ, things begin to change.

There is this hunger to know Him better. The scriptures have come alive, and the urgency to share Christ's love with others is only growing. When you stop striving and begin to abide in Christ, that is when things truly start to change. His love draws me, and my heart's cry is, "Here I am, Lord. Send me!" The following poem is one of three prayer poems I wrote recently. May you be encouraged, and may you come to know what it means to know Christ. Trust Him with whatever new thing is before you. Walk through the door, trusting Him to guide you.

I Am Yours, Send Me

What is this feeling, LORD? That which calls me to something different A stepping out in faith An urgency to speak truth, to write praises Warnings, Your voice crying out.

Is it my own inner longings? Is is something deeper, Someone calling? Show me Your path, Almighty God Here I am, willing to be sent Confined by the limitations of the flesh.

With You, all things possible With You, limitations reveal Your power With You, obstacles become stepping stones of faith With You, grace and love abound With You, I am at rest.

Hear my cry, Precious LORD Make known to me the path of life Speak life and truth Where You lead, I follow expectantly Whatever life brings, I trust in Your sovereignty The trials of life, driving me deeper into Your embrace.

Isaiah 43 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible for many reasons. God has spoken through many verses at various times over the years. Today, I want us to reflect on verses 16-19:

"Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 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."

If God is doing a new thing in your life, do not be afraid. Don't hold so tightly to what is familiar that you miss out on what He is doing in this new season. Walk through the door in faith, following the One who is faithful and who will keep all His promises. You can trust Him, even when it is painful, when you are asked to lay your desires on the altar of faith. He loves you, and He calls you "Beloved".

Heavenly Father,

Please be with my dear friend reading this. May they sit at Your feet and listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to them. May they trust you in every season of life. May they follow You in faith, trusting that You will guide their every step. May they be transformed by Your love, guided by Your Spirit, and filled with Your peace.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Until next time, be blessed!

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.