New Year, New Thing

​So, Christmas is over. Everybody has their presents. We (myself included) are all at home playing with our new Apple, Samsung, etc. products. The hype is falling, and just before practicality sets in.....it's time for New Year's Eve (and THE day). So we have something else to be hype about. Soon, we'll be hearing a lot of 'new year, new me', but I believe that now, God is is saying 'new year, new things', and that's great, but......let's just get to it. 

Isaiah 43:18-19 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." 

Typically, people shout over this scripture. I'm the same way. It's worth a solid shout and dance or two. First of all, it's a promise of a new thing. New things are typically worth looking forward to. Second, it's springing forth! There's nothing better than seeing a fresh well of water springing up in your life when you've been walking around in a desert for years. Finally, God goes through the process of painting the picture. He's giving roads in wildernesses, and rivers in the desert. If we were in church, somebody would be running right now....but I need you to put your inner runner on pause, because I need to give you the full picture before we slide over into 2017. 

   Have you ever thought about the pain that comes with new things? We like new things. They're shiny...and fresh...and so...poetic (fresh starts, and all that jazz), but they all come at a price. All new things come at a cost of something that you already have. Somebody had to pay for the presents we received for Christmas. You had to spend your time setting up the new gadgets, etc., and the same is true for your destiny, and the new things that God has for you in 2017: it's going to cost you something. We are who we are today at the expense of who we used to be, and we will be the final manifestation of what God created us to be at the cost of who we are today. 

    The scripture says this itself. The first step to getting something new is to let go of what’s old (do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old). The issue is that we are often too afraid to let go. Old things come with an aspect of comfort. We’re well acquainted with what’s old in our lives. We’ve built systems, habits, and routines around them. Furthermore, ‘old’ things are already here. We have to *dramatic gasp* wait on God for something new. We have to endure uncertainty and discomfort. So before you shout about the new thing, realize that it is going to come at the cost of something old, but it’s always worth it in the end. 

    When I recently read this scripture, I thought about pressure. More specifically, I thought about the pressure required for something to literally 'spring forth'. It sounds beautiful, but we put ourselves in dangerous positions when we get so excited over the result that we don’t consider the process (and pressure required). All new things require some amount of pressure. Pressure is required for anything to “spring”, because it has to break through what was. Birth requires pressure, because moms have to ‘push’. Oil requires pressure, because the olives have to be pressed. It takes pressure to open doors. It takes pressure to create new paths. It takes pressure tear away from who you used to be, and walk into who you’re supposed to be. Everything new requires some type of pressure. All barriers, old ways, etc. have to succumb to the pressure from what’s new (and God knows that all old walls don’t fall easily). So, 

     We shout about the new things. We name & claim them, but you can't step into your promise land if you don't survive the wilderness. Im not telling you this to scare you; I’m telling you this to prepare you. When you step into 2017, be ready for the fight ahead. Furthermore, be ready to win. So often, people set new year’s resolutions, goals, etc. that don’t make it to the end of January. I think that so often, we create a fairy tale around…anything new, especially a new year. Then, we’re worn out by March, because we honestly didn’t expect this fight or this pressure. Let’s be different this year. How? Expect the fight. Expect the pressure, and press back. Don’t run back to what was; press into what’s new. New things may not always be comfortable, but if they come from God, they’re always better than what we had. What you have isn’t even worthy to be compared to what’s ahead. New things are coming, and they’re bringing a new level of pressure; but if you press back, I guarantee that you’ll press your way into a new level of strength, a new level of joy, a new level of faith, a new level of peace, and a new level of abundant life. So, let’s get a head start, forget the former things, and everything that’s old. Let’s get rid of old pain, heal old wounds, remove old baggage, and make room for the new things that God is going to do in our lives. 2017 is a new year, so it’s time for a ‘new you’, and new things. See ya next year!! ;)

Background Music: Make Me New - Together We Stand Community Choir feat Mali Music

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