Old Things and New Things

How often do we identify ourselves through the lens of our past, through words spoken over us, or through lies the enemy whispers? We can get stuck looking behind us in a backwards cycle, trying to re-live moments, trying to see it through different angles, only to see the same thing again and again… But God tells us something beautiful, something amazing about the former things of this life. He says,

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

The Lord has been speaking to me recently about the rivers in the desert. I believe that we will see rivers bursting forth in our dry deserts. We will see living waters wash away past hurts, grief, trials and tribulations. But I believe that we will only see the streams if we get our eyes onto the new thing and off of the old. We must decide to let go of the former things, so we can cling to our new identity which is in Christ Jesus.

A few weeks ago, I found an old dresser on marketplace that was posted for free. I love projects and I love free stuff, so my son and I drove to the house where the dresser lived. As we came to the address, we saw the old dresser at the end of the driveway buried in snow. It was sad looking with paint spilled on the handles and wet snow dripping off the front end. I can’t help but remember the time I was this old dresser sitting in my car on the side of the road, hopeless. I had lost sight of my purpose while sitting in the former things of life. Claiming rejection, all I could think was, I am not enough. I brushed off the snow that covered the dresser, I picked it up and loaded it into my car. I loved the dresser, built of solid wood and golden handles that looked like pretty bows. I saw so much beauty in something left on the end of a driveway. With some sanding, wood glue and paint, the dresser was revived and now sits in our bedroom full of my clothes, serving the purpose that it was always made to serve.

Just like my dresser, I too was revived that night on the side of the road, not because I willed myself to a purposeful life, but because I surrendered my way to God and asked Him to make His way in my life where there seemed to be no way. He picked me up, He put me back together, and He reminded me to look to Him and the new things that He would do in my life. Not too long after that night in my car, God made great streams in my once desert. He opened doors for me to minister in the Czech Republic, I got to worship and sing to Him in places that I thought I would never be, but the best stream of all in that season, was leading me to my Husband, one of my greatest gifts in this world.

When we keep looking back, when we keep believing the lies of the enemy, and when we believe what others negatively say we are, we become the old dresser- left and abandoned in our own thoughts and feelings of not being enough. Today, I encourage you to look ahead! Surrender your way to God and ask Him to help you see the new things that He is about to do. Forgive the past, identify yourself with who God says you are, and walk in your purpose of what He is calling you to be. He will never leave or forsake you. If you are in a desert, trust Him and the rivers are going to burst forth. I see them washing over you, refreshing you and reminding you of who and who’s you are. Stand ready my friends, the streams are beginning to flow.