SEE, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW
Rev 21:4-5 “….for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away…..see! I make all things new”
Isah 43:18-19 “Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth…. I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”
Matt 9:17 “Neither is new wine put in old wineskins…..but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved”
Josh 5:9 “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you”
“the word reproach means blame, disgrace or shame….I am convinced that about 85% of our problems stem from the way we feel about ourselves…shame had poisoned my inner being…God wants to give us grace, and Satan wants to give us disgrace, another word for reproach…God’s action of rolling away our reproach means that we receive the forgive ness He is offering for all our past sins. Refusal to accept God’s forgiveness (by not forgiving yourself) will definitely keep you wandering in the wilderness. Your mind must be renewed…He earned your blessings by carrying your reproach to the cross. You can never deserve or be worthy of it, you can only humbly accept and appreciate it, and be in awe of how good He is and how much He loves you. Let God roll that reproach off you, and experience the freedom from shame that Jesus wants to give you” Joyce Meyer “Everyday Life Bible” taken from Josh 5:9
“We can release God’s plan for our lives by no longer thinking about the things of old, believing that God has a good plan for our future. Since what we think about eventually comes out of our mouths, we will never get our mouths straightened out unless we do something about our thoughts. I believe that if we stop mentally living in the past, we can begin to think in agreement with God. Then once we do that, we can begin to speak in agreement with Him. By so doing we can actually prophesy our own future.” Joyce Meyer “Everyday Life Bible” taken from Isah 43:18,19.
How do we prepare for the “New Things” God has for us? In all the above verses it says the old has to be done away with first. The past and the old way of doing things must be laid aside! All old mindsets, mistakes, failures, methods, experiences even old victories can cause us to become complacent, blinding us to the dangers of future battles! There are also some old relationships from the past, soul ties, co-dependents, naysayers, control freaks that need to be severed (pruned) to make way for new growth!
Do not dwell and meditate on the past, turn your focus onto the future and the new things God has for you Heb 12:2. Dwelling on the past becomes a weight that drags us down and hinders us and actually binds you to the past. We need to strip, removing everything that hinders us from the race set before us! Look at vs 2 “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus…He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross…” notice His focus wasn’t on the cross and horrors He would have to face, but His focus was on the prize – the finish line! What things or people are causing you to be distracted and to lose your focus of what God has called you to do? Maybe it’s over committing yourself, allowing others to control you, becoming too entangled in someone else’s problems instead of keeping our eyes on our own goals?
The key to all of this is having a pliable and soft heart, one that is willing to change Deut 10:16 “so circumcise the foreskin of your [minds and] hearts; be no longer stubborn and hardened” also Ezek 36:26-27, Isah 1:19, 1 Sam 15:23. If we resist change and stubbornly continue to cling to the old, comfortable way of doing things we will never experience God’s new and better things! God is a ‘Big God’ and always has bigger, better, far more exciting things in stall for us, far beyond our wildest dreams and imaginations 1 Cor 2:9, Eph 3:20 but we have to do our part by jumping into the Father’s arms…Deut 33:27, total abandonment and trust and just like the four lepers said “shall we stay here and die?” so to stay stagnant, not moving forward or growing is death!!
Ok I always ask myself the “HOW” question?
1. I believe the first step is what I’ve already mentioned – lay aside stubbornness, rebellion and unwillingness to change but rather be obedient and willing to submit to His Lordship, no matter how crazy or difficult it may seem! Soften your heart and become pliable, teachable and humble! Lay down your own way, your own plans and your own selfish desires Jn 12:24-25, Gal 2:20, Luke 14:33. Easier said than done I know!! Probably our hardest and greatest, life long struggle is this very thing for the flesh does NOT want to be crucified!!!!
2. We’ve learnt that all decisions and then actions first start in your thought life! Change your thinking and renew your mind Rom 12:2, it’s when we renew our mind and thinking that God reveals His will for our lives! Are you struggling to find an answer or God’s direction for your life? Maybe the problem is in your thinking?? Are you listening to and allowing negative and critical bombardment of thoughts – the “I can’t do it”, “It’s too late”, “I’ll never succeed”, “I’ll never make it”, “I’m not good enough”, “I’m too old”, “it’s too hard”, “I’ve blown it” thoughts??? In fact it was exactly this kind of thinking that defeated the Israelites except for Joshua and Caleb who did not see themselves as grasshoppers! It was only when they had the “I CAN DO” attitude and shook off reproach and shame that God led them into their promised land! Ok there are a myriad of scriptures that you can use to counter attack negative thoughts, find the ones relating to the specific area you are having problems in and target that area by confessing them every day – over and over and over!! Make it your daily routine and habit. It’s this repetitive action that actually changes the old negative groves and ruts that were originally engraved into your brain cells!! Key scriptures are 2 Cor 10:5, Phil 4:13, Rom 8:31, 2 Cor 5:17 remember you are a “new creation, the old has passed away” you no longer need to wallow in the mire and the mud of the past and old stinking thinking, old mindsets and strongholds!!
3. Combat the giant “Fear”. Faith cannot operate where fear is! This strongman and giant is something we all have to face and overcome in life! Remember what David said to Goliath “…for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands” 1 Sam 17:47. Of course this is a huge subject but I think the key to overcoming fear is knowing deep in your heart that God is with you and on your side and holds you in His hands, and will never leave or forsake you, and is fighting for you, Rom 8:31-39, Jn 10:29, Heb 13:5, Josh 1:9, Deut 31:6, Isa 41:10,13, 2 Chron 20:15,17, Prov 12:21, Ps 91,121. When we stay in His presence, in His will, in His love and under His umbrella of protection no real harm can come to us! When we step “out of love” into fear, allowing fear to control us then we are in serious danger!!
4. Allow yourself time to adjust to the “new thing”, the changes! Yes it’s going to feel uncomfortable, awkward, unpleasant and difficult at first! Stretching is never comfortable, but once you have grown into that new position it will become easier and more enjoyable to you!!
