“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” —Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
Life is much a passage of seasons. In the temperate world seasons revolve from winter, spring, summer and autumn. In the tropics there are rainy and dry seasons. The beauty about this cycle of seasons is that as one season comes to an end there is ever an opportunity to look forward to a new brighter season. A harsh winter is greeted with the expectation of a beautiful spring. A long and dry season is forgotten as one welcomes in a rainy season.
Now through the year one might experience all manner of challenges. But one thing that counts is letting go of the past, and looking afresh to brighter seasons ahead. Indeed, one of the defining aspects of followers of Christ is that He is in the business of beginning afresh. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This was the case with one of the prisoners alongside Jesus who cried, “remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” ( Luke 23:42-43).
While you could have had all sorts of setbacks, as that is life, scriptures say, “Great is faithful; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:23).
Today, look forward to a new beginning. There are better seasons ahead. For the Lord says, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for your word that encourages me to forget the past and looking forward to the new life that is in you, and this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
