“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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02/05/2024 - 03/05/2024 All day“That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10)
We all crave to be blessed in life. But was there a believer who was so blessed beyond any circumstances without experiencing some sort of discomfort, in one way or another! A person may apparently be blessed in every single way yet have one troubling matter that constantly drives him down to his knees.
The one mightily blessed with riches may have a family situation that leaves him ever on edge. Someone who seems to be at the height of his profession may be living with an ailment that keeps him ever on tentacles. The one blessed with abundant health might from time to time be dealing with financial woes.
Why do such troubling situations plague even believers? One explanation could be found in the Apostle Paul’s life. Called into ministry and endowed with many gifts, including amazing revelations from above, yet he had a matter that constantly drove him on his knees. “Therefore in order to keep me from being conceited, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor 12: 7).
Paul would often cry out to God to free him of this particularly troubling matter. But the Lord came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor 12: 9).
The comfort of this lesson is that God is completely aware of whatever might be ever troubling us. Moreover, it could be purposely there, that we constantly place our faith in Him, other than relying on our strength and resources, especially as He blesses us in other uplifting ways.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that whatever matter is constantly troubling me, I know it is for a purpose and you are in total control, to bless me even more, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
