Entering the New Year has many emotions. In years past this has been a time of releasing a word I sense the Lord stirring for the New Year. While He is stirring a few things in my spirit, I don’t feel an urge to release it in detail here.
Instead, there’s a simplicity of what I want to write today, which will in turn, hopefully, encourage others as we journey into 2023.
Forget The Former Things
2023 will bring with it new things for the New Year. But, in the midst of the excitement of having a clean slate ahead, other emotions also bubble to the surface. There’s apprehension, anticipation, wonder, nervousness, unworthiness, and a few more. In the midst of turmoil, there will be blessing. In the midst of blessing, there will be turmoil. In the midst of it all, there’s refinement on the way as well.
God is doing a new thing, but the only way to experience the new thing is to totally forget the past. Now is the time to truly step out of the norm, and into the new. The clichés of the past, must stay in the past. Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing!” But, the only way to experience the new thing is to follow the instructions of the previous verse which says, “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past” (Isaiah 43:18).
As we journeyed through what I call the Divine Pause of the pandemic, many repeated the mantra ‘it’s the new norm’. The problem is, a mantra has nothing to do with God’s plan. The very word has no Scriptural foundation. The word mantra originated in Hinduism and Buddhism and means “a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.” As believers we must determine in the New Year to stop taking our cues from other religions. Now is the time to be rooted firmly in the Word of God. If it does not line up with the Word of God, we must not align with it.
With God, nothing is ever normal. It’s time to add the ‘super’ back into the ‘natural’. Then, and only then, will we discover the ‘supernatural’ of God.
Stay The Course
The key to moving forward in 2023 is to stay the course. “Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 NIV). The New Living Translation says, “press on to reach the end of the race.” The Aramaic Bible in Plain English puts it this way; “I run toward the goal to take the victory of the calling of God.”
Nothing has changed since the beginning of time. Just as it was in the Garden, God is placing before us two trees. One is the Tree of Life, the other is the Tree of Knowledge. 2023 is The Year to Choose Our Tree. So long ago in the Garden, Adam and Eve chose the Tree of Knowledge, which led to separation from God and eviction from Paradise.
The world is constantly trying to tear us down and discourage us on this journey. But, as we Choose the Right Tree in 2023, the Tree of Life, we in turn find encouragement to “press on toward the goal.”
A long time friend sent me the following message last week that I found very encouraging.
“Stay the course. If you keep showing up they can’t beat you.”
This year, I will do my best to ‘stay the course and keep showing up’, and I encourage you to do the same thing too.
Just a guy on a journey,
Rus
4 thoughts on “Keep Showing Up”
Thanks Rus that was very encouraging word. We must all stay on the path. And eat from the Tree of Life that is the way of the Lord amen
A great insight Pr Rus.. about 2months ago I sensed “I’m the God of the impossible “and another thought “do you trust me”..so much has gone on all over the place “stay the course “ is so encouraging.. thanks & blessings
Timely word for the church. The Spirit of God is speaking of the ‘new thing’ to so many. Praying we can leave the former things behind us.
Amen and Amen
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