”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

The Spirit of the Lord is here, with you presently. His Spirit is stirring ours to the reality that if we try to look back at the former things, we may miss the miracle of this present moment.

We cannot dwell in the past like Lot’s wife who left Sodom and Gomorrah. I imagine Lot and his wife desperately grabbing their daughters by the hand, and running towards the safe country ahead as two angels were about to completely destroy the godless cities behind them. Lot’s wife disobeyed the angel’s warning and chose to look back, becoming a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).

We CANNOT look back in the rear view mirror of our lives and expect to move forward safely. It’s one thing to glance back to see what the Lord has brought us through, but it’s another to dwell in the past.

We can miss what I AM is doing here, now and today. He is doing something new, and it requires creativity to do “new!” The enemy loves to retrack and retrace old steps that lead us into the former things of guilt and shame. But, the Lord is leading us into the NEW; toward paths that we haven’t treaded, funneling us into life to the full (John 10:10b).

We can’t be sheltered by the cloud of the Presence of the Lord by day, or have the warmth and comfort of the fire of God by night if we’re not moving forward with Him (Exodus 13:21).

LOOK! I AM is doing a new thing! 

His creativity contains the plans for a NEW beginning, a fresh start, insight into the future, and the wind of His Spirit to help propel you forward! Keep your eyes on the King, seated high above your circumstance! 

Jesus Himself was led to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit because He knew that the Lord was doing something new (Matthew 4:1). This newness, though difficult, showed us how to walk through trials and temptations with a mindset straight from our Heavenly Father. 

It is HE that can do the impossible to soften a hardened heart or hard situation. There is a way through the wasteland that the Lord is guiding you out of! The enemy loves to keep you walking in circles to dishearten you, but the KING says, look UP! 

I AM is doing something NEW. Keep your eyes on your Father and follow Him, into the new!

Amen!

Contributed by Lauren Best