Be Open to Receive the New

2015 was a “WOW” year that ended with some major change. Often we are ready to leave one year or one season because it was filled with so much drama, so much loss, so much negative change that we can only hope that the New Year will bring something that is not only different but better. If things are still going to be bad, you figure I may as well keep the bad I know than try a different bad.

But often your current situation is pretty good. You are pretty content with what you have or what you have started and you are looking forward to more of the same with maybe a little better. Why? Because change, especially major change, is often stressful. Who wants stress? Life is stressful enough without us seeking it out. Why risk giving up the known good for the possibility of greater?

Because God said it! God said in Isaiah 43:18, “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.” And what exactly is God going to do. God said in verse 19: “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” WOW!

God has positioned us for change. God has positioned us for swift transition. We are called to expect the great. And yes, God can do it. Just trust and believe. Count it all joy!  God said, “I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland (Isaiah 43:19b). Won’t God do it…yes God will.

The Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right (Psalm 84:11). Regardless of what happened in your past; regardless of what happened in 2015 know that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). The joy of the Lord is your strength so count it all joy. Stand on God’s Word because in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. The flesh was Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

God has promised us more, so be bold. Take courage that Jesus is always present and step out of the boat and walk on water because God is in control. Regardless of the type of storm that you are in God has your back. Jesus is Lord and he said he will never leave you nor forsake you. The Author and Finisher of our faith is the same yesterday, today and forevermore so regardless of what you are going through count it all joy. The same God who kept you in the past will keep you in the present. The same God who kept you in 2015 will keep you in 2016. God has more in store for you.

You may not see it right now but God is about to do a new thing. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Your life is worth fighting for “so we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’ Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith” (Hebrews 13:6-7).

Keep the faith. God is in control. So count it all joy and be open to receive the great new thing that the Lord is about to do in your life. If God did it before, God can and will do it again. Expect the great!