Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 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 43:18-19 ESV

I love the book of Isaiah; it is prophetic and poetic. Isaiah has more prophecies of Jesus than any other book in the Old Testament. Isaiah 43 begins with God speaking to His people. Hebrew poetry is produced using two short lines that parallel each other, state similar ideas. For example: in verse 1, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by my name, you are mine.” (I apologize for being slightly off task, but I just have to share when I find something interesting. I have read Isaiah many times and never really noticed that nearly all of it is poetry!) Can you see the three sets of parallels in our verses for today? Great!

Now back on task for today. God, through the prophet Isaiah, invites us to put our past behind us. Yes, easier said than done. We all have things in our past that we regret, we wish had never happened. We dwell on our mistakes and remember mistreatment by others. There are things we hold on to, things we hide in our hearts. But God promises us newness, “a new thing,” like a path in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. God guides us into our future.

The new thing God has promised us is…Jesus! We become new in Jesus; a new mind, a new heart, a new creation, and a new future when we focus on God. “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 ESV  In other verses of Isaiah 43, God describes who we are in His eyes: precious, honored, loved, our companion, called by His name, created for His glory, formed and made by God, our redeemer and our Savior.

This week, my friends:

Let go of your past, forget the old things.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, focus on your newness.

Seek His healing presence, focus on Him, His will for you.

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week in Isaiah as we work to forget the past and focus on our God and Savior who holds our future.

Blessings and healing, friends!