God created the world with newness of life built into it’s design and every year we see that in the seasons. But it’s also how He created us. We are designed to grow and have new challenges, dreams, goals and vision. It constantly amazes me how we can always do far more than what we might have first thought, especially if we put our hearts and minds to it.
One of our daughters is always doing new things; it’s exciting to hear what she has been up to or is planning next. I think it’s a great habit to cultivate; looking and wanting to experience all that life has for us.
What we do everyday affects our hearts, minds, attitudes and spirits and doing new things can actually help to make new pathways in our brains. It also opens us up to possibilities for God to move in our lives. For if we keep doing everything the same we can over time close ourselves off to life and even start to believe we don’t have a reason to get out of bed in the morning or begin to look to the future with no anticipation or hope.
Isaiah 35 in the Bible always encourages me. It is a proclamation of new life from God and reveals His desire to strengthen us even when we may feel weak or fearful of the future.
God says that the desert, which often symbolises the areas in our life which have become barren, shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; like rivers in the desert will He pour out His spirit on those who are thirsty.
Isaiah 35 says, “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,
Even with joy and singing… Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water.” (Isaiah 35:1-7)
Be encouraged today and allow God to release renewed excitement and anticipation for the future. Draw aside with Jesus and ask Him to shower you with His presence so that any barren, dry places in your life can be filled with hope and a fresh vision planted within your heart.
It’s important to also understand that when God prompts us and we feel Him saying something that we choose to hold onto those NEW things and decide to run with them, rather than simply let them go or push them aside because it seems too hard or we give way to fear and uncertainty.
We get to choose everyday to “water” those seeds of hope and vision with prayer, God’s Word and believing or to kill them off with negativity and neglect. I really encourage you to hold onto whatever God releases because as it bears fruit in your life it will always be exceedingly more than you could of ever imagined possible on your own. (Ephesians 3:20)
Come to God and ask Him for fresh hope and vision today! For He says, “Behold I will do a new thing, now it springs forth; shall you not know it.” (Isaiah 43:19)
Prayer: Thank you God that you love me so much. I ask that you restore, renew and release something straight from heaven into my life as I look for and make room for new things today. In Jesus Name. Amen.