God Has A Fresh Start Ready For You Starting Today!

 
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

~Isaiah 43: 18-19

Somebody asked me a very hard question this week, and it’s not the first time I’ve been asked this question. How do you start over? 

I’ve been there, and it’s a tough place to find yourself. There’s a lot of ways people find themselves in this place. Some of you feel stuck because of broken relationships. Perhaps you’ve had a marriage that ended badly, or a friendship that has dissolved in conflicts, or problems in your family that are broken beyond repair. Many of our problems we cause ourselves because we’ve made bad decisions. We’ve made a poor career move, or made bad decisions about money, or fallen into a destructive habit that you can’t seem to break.

But I have good news for you. It’s never too late to begin again.  In fact, God specializes in fresh starts.

In our verse today, God speaks directly to people who feel trapped by their past. Notice that God doesn't minimize the past or pretend it didn't happen. Instead, He doesn’t just give us permission, but He commands us to stop dwelling on it!  Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

God isn't just telling us to forget the past, He is announcing that He is actively doing something new in our lives right now. God isn't waiting for you to get your act together first. He's not requiring you to do something to earn a fresh start. He's already working on creating a new path. The imagery is powerful here.  God makes "a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

So how do we move from being stuck to stepping into God's new thing? It’s easier than you think. 

First, release what was. Let it go! And this means having an honest conversation with God about your past mistakes. Confess them specifically—name them! Then receive His forgiveness. First John 1:9 promises that when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us.

Second, watch for what is—sometimes we get so wrapped up in our problems we don’t see God is offering us solutions.  God asks, "Do you not perceive it?" Train your eyes to see the new opportunities He's creating. Start each day this week by praying, "God, open my eyes to see the new thing You're doing today." Look for unexpected conversations, look for doors opening, notice new people who cross your path, or new ideas that come to mind. God often works through ordinary circumstances to create extraordinary breakthroughs. 

Third, walk into what will be. Faith requires action. Once you've released the past and started watching for God's new work, you need to take that first step forward, even when you can't see the whole path. Maybe it's making that phone call to restore a relationship. Perhaps it's applying for a job you thought was beyond your reach. Or it could be as simple as changing one small habit that's been holding you back. God doesn't reveal the entire journey at once, He just asks us to take the next faithful step. So take it!

Your past does not have to determine your future. The God who spoke the universe into existence is speaking a new thing over your life today. But there's a choice you have to make. Will you keep dwelling on the former things, or will you open your eyes to perceive the new thing God is doing? Will you stay stuck in yesterday's regrets, or will you step into today's possibilities?

Don't wait until tomorrow or next week. Today is the day to release what was, watch for what is, and walk into what will be.  Your fresh start begins today. Don't miss it.

~Pastor Todd Creason