“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).
I need newness in my life!
My phone is dying, my laptop is dead, my clothes are worn and torn; I need a car, a job, money; I need to be fully funded by January but I am only 7% funded; student loans are piling up and I am just tired of Sallie Mae calling, emailing, and sending me letters; my body is in pain, my heart is heavy; I’m struggling with loneliness, heartache, self esteem…. I can continue but I’ll stop. It’s been the same story since the beginning of 2015; 2016 is almost here and I desire a new song!
It’s in this state of mind that I approached God. Immediately, the Isaiah 43 passage came to my mind. I love the NIV use of the word “perceive” because it’s God asking me, “My daughter, I AM doing something new with you, but why aren’t you aware of it yet?” I had no answer; I still don’t. But, God still extended His grace to me by calling my attention to today’s verse of the day, Hebrews 11:1. My response was what that boy’s father told Jesus, ” ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ ” (Mark 9:24, ESV). I wasn’t trying to be smart with God, but I was being sincere.
I do want to perceive what God is doing in my life, but my myopic view makes it impossible to even imagine. Do you get what I mean? I do want to trust and believe and live knowing that God’s thoughts and plans for me are good, but it is hard when things seem unchanging. However, I can’t ignore God’s message to me to perceive (become aware, be conscious of the fact, understand, realize, look through the eyes of the Spirit) the work He is doing in me. I must also take it by faith and wait for the manifestation of His work and promises for me.
Therefore, I believe the newness I desire is coming– in fact, it is here! My car, my phone, my laptop, funding, clothes, job, money, vision, growth, self-love, etc. are here– I even desire to have new prayers requests, to stop asking for forgiveness for the same things! If God is my God, then I must believe that His perfect will (what I truly desire) for me is the best for me. All I need is a dash of faith, a whole lot of waiting, and an extra dose of keeping my heart on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable… excellent or praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8, NIV). Changing old habits is hard, but even old dogs can learn new tricks!
So, I have a new journey, something I wasn’t looking for– but my God always knows what I need…
God For Everyday 