Now

Now is the time to become who God has destined you to be—to take back what you have lost or to discover possibilities you have never even considered. There is no perfect time to take back relationships or to discover joy. You have longed for your mind to think only of good things and believe unceasingly in what God promises. You have hoped to believe. Even though the Word tells you that you are new in Christ—even though all things in your life are meant to be new—even though you know the old should be over—you have struggled to move forward in faith. You haven’t fully perceived the depth of the incredible spiritual transformation that new life in Christ really promises. He means for you to be completely free from the chains of old baggage and to live in the freedom the Holy Spirit imparts (2 Corinthians 3:17).

It is time to start the journey that new life in Him promises by laying down who you have been for who He says you are. How do you begin this journey to find freedom in Him? You begin new life by placing your past on His altar. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” God instructs in Isaiah 43:18. This Scripture declares that you shouldn’t wrap your mind around what has happened, and you shouldn’t continually think about the past which you have allowed to define you. It is a command to decide to forget the former things. Forget means “being unable to call to mind, unable to summon up, or unable to picture.” Now that sounds amazing—not to remember or even have a picture in your mind of past fears or failures. Forget means that the past is gone. So don’t dwell on it. When you don’t dwell on what has been you have greater faith to believe in what He promises. He will keep you in perfect peace when your mind dwells on Him (Isaiah 26:3).

“See!” the Lord declares in Isaiah 43:19. “I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”  See means “to understand, realize, or perceive.” To perceive you seek the depth of God’s truth. You don’t just glance at His Word and expect it to change the way you think. You seek His truth and allow it to change your life. You can’t expect to have a close intimate relationship with God without seeking Him with all your heart and soul—without walking in obedience—without loving and serving Him.  “See!” He speaks again and again to your struggling heart. “I am doing a new thing. It springs up. Lay yourself down. Surrender the old. Seek me with all your being! And you will know me as you have never known me.”

“I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland,” He promises. “The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise” (Isaiah 43:20-21). This promise of the presence of His Spirit to fill you—to strengthen you—to change you—to break the chains of the past—is His truth. Even though you may walk through a wasteland of hardship—through pain or suffering you will not be destroyed.  Your pain doesn’t define you. He defines you. He created you to love and praise Him, and you belong to Him. He gives you everything you need to survive and flourish. Choose to forget the old and hunger for His love. Seek Him until nothing else matters. Choose freedom from all that has claimed you. He is your promise. He is your redemption. It is time for your new. Choose Him and perceive it!