Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
—Isaiah 43:18 (NIV).
Do you long to believe without wavering in God’s promise? You want to believe, and you don’t understand why you can’t believe it. Faith seems illusive. One moment you have peace, and the next moment fear returns with a vengeance. Jesus died and rose again to give you freedom in Him, but you struggle to hold on to it. The enemy lies, and you buy into it. Jesus has given you freedom, but you don’t experience it.
Today’s Scripture instructs you to forget the former things. Don’t continually dwell on your failures or the enemy’s lies. “Forget” is a strong word. It means “being unable to call to mind, unable to summon up, or unable to picture.” Now that sounds amazing—not to even remember your fears or failures or lies. You can’t even summon up a mental picture because the person you were before Jesus is gone. Jesus forgets so why can’t you? You don’t have to continually think about the past. God will keep your mind in perfect peace when you dwell on Him. Perfect peace is resting in the freedom of who Jesus says you are—not the bondage of who you once were. Hope springs up when you don’t dwell on the former things.
“See,” the Lord declares, “I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it” (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)? “See” is another strong word, and it means “to understand, realize, or perceive.” It does not mean to just glance and miss the depth of something. When you “see” God’s truth, you understand, realize, and perceive that God is doing a new thing. “Seeing” in this verse means you believe in the new thing even when nothing appears to have changed. You perceive God’s promise that the new life Jesus died to give you is REAL. You are freed by that perception.
“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, NIV). ]
God makes a way for you. What you have perceived to be a wasteland in your life is gone. Lies are just lies and have no power when you choose to believe in the new life that Christ has given you. God created you to love and praise Him, and you belong to Him. Praise Him no matter your circumstance! He gives you everything you need to flourish. Believe in the freedom from the old, which has defined your life WAY too long. Choose to forget it and dwell on Jesus’ love for you. He wants you to perceive in your mind what you have received in your spirit. It is time for His new life to make a difference. Choose to recognize it! Choose the new!
© 2019 Lynn Lacher
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