In Isaiah 43:18-19 I read, “The LORD says, 'Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now!'” (GNT)
When people stop following God’s vision for their lives, they usually think two things: “I don’t have what it takes” or “I have failed in the past.” If I want to get a fresh start on pursuing God’s vision, the first step is to stop making excuses.
First, I do have what it takes.
Have I ever heard someone say or have I even said to myself, “I don’t have what it takes to go after my dream”? Many people in the Bible, including Moses and Jeremiah, tried to use this excuse when God had an assignment for them. But my favorite example of “I don’t have what it takes” is Gideon.
God told Gideon he wanted to use him to liberate the Israelites. Gideon responded: “‘But Lord . . . how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!’ The LORD said to him, ‘I will be with you’” (Judges 6:15-16 NLT).
When I think I don’t have what it takes, remember what Gideon’s life teaches: I’m never on my own; God is always with me and for me. I can rely on his power, presence, promises, and protection. I don’t have to worry about anything!
Second, my past is past.
This is another common excuse for not making a fresh start: “I have failed in the past.”
The truth is that everyone has failed. And while I am a product of my past, I don’t have to be a prisoner of my past. I’m shaped by things that happened to me and things I did to myself. But today I have a choice; I am not a victim unless I choose to be.
God is far more interested in my future than my past. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “The LORD says, ‘Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now!’” (GNT)
The biggest barrier to my success may be my own excuses. God wants me to let go of past failures and confess my sins. Then I can move on, knowing my sins are forgiven.
“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance” (Proverbs 28:13 TLB).
That’s a fresh start!
In summary, do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing that God will do. In fact, it is happening already, you can see it. When people stop following God’s vision, they usually think two things: “I don’t have what it takes” or “I have failed in the past.” In order to get a fresh start, the first step is to stop making excuses. First excuse, I do not have what it takes. Many people in the Bible, including Moses and Jeremiah, tried to use this excuse when God had an assignment for them. In another example, God told Gideon he wanted to use him to liberate the Israelites. Gideon responded: “‘How? My clan is the weakest, and I am the least in my entire family!’ But the LORD said to him, I will be with you. When I think I don’t have what it takes, remember what Gideon’s life teaches: I’m never on my own; God is always with me and for me. I can rely on his power, presence, promises, and protection. I don’t have to worry about anything! The second excuse is I have failed in the past. Everyone has failed. And while I am a product of my past, I don’t have to be a prisoner of it. I am shaped by things that happened to me and things I did to myself. But today I have a choice; I am not a victim unless I choose to be. I see that God is far more interested in my future than my past. So the biggest barrier to my success may be my own excuses. However, God wants me to let go of past failures and confess my sins. Then I can move on, knowing my sins are forgiven. For a man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he can get another chance.
Isaiah chapter 43 pictures a new exodus like the one their ancestors had experienced when they fled from Egypt. The Israelites would again cry to God for deliverance, and he would hear and deliver them. A new exodus would take place through a new wilderness. The past miracles were nothing compared to what God would do for his people in the future.
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