As we come down to the end of the scripture writing series for January, I believe this is the greatest verse for us to write upon our hearts. We see this verse used all the time! We see it in cute graphics and people quote it all the time.
This verse, I believe is God’s promise that He gives us a fresh start, every day! As we begin this year, lets give this verse a good look and look within ourselves towards our Heavenly Father’s fresh start.
Isaiah is speaking to Israel in Babylon. We learn the context of this verse.
14 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:
Isaiah 43:14-17
Because of you, I will send an army to Babylon
and bring all of them as fugitives,
even the Chaldeans in the ships in which they rejoice.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.
16 This is what the Lord says—
who makes a way in the sea,
and a path through raging water,
17 who brings out the chariot and horse,
the army and the mighty one together
(they lie down, they do not rise again;
they are extinguished, put out like a wick)—
Isaiah spoke prophecy to Israel about the coming Messiah and the ultimate deliverer, Jesus.
When we attempt to “play God” and depend upon ourselves or focus our hearts on our flesh’s desires and not His, we are like Israel under captivity. We try to fight our own battles or resign to our own fate.
But God.
God tells us otherwise. He wants to make all things new for us. He wants to align our hearts with His and He is calling us to look to Him, not our circumstances but to focus on our freedom in Christ. We are not slaves to the events happening in the world today.
In verse 108, Isaiah writes, “stop looking behind.” He says do not lean on past victories to sustain you and do not let your past failures paralyze you.
There is a time and a place to recollect past events to glean its wisdom, but do not stay there. The past is a great place to learn about ourselves, but it is a terrible place to live in. We hang onto the baggage of unresolved issues and failures for too long. We learn what God has to reveal about them and we move on.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
Psalm 32:5
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
If we live in the past, we will never embrace the future God has in store for us. The real question to ask ourselves is, What is God saying to us today?
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Is answer is simple: you are a new creation. The old has passed away. This is the heart of the gospel. Our past failures, brokenness and pain no longer defines us, condemns us, or rules over us.
Some questions to ask ourselves and ponder upon:
What are you holding on to from your past?
Is there a sin or belief you are holding on to?
Are there idols in your life that need to be let go?
Is there forgiveness you are withholding?
Repentance is key to receiving God’s merciful renewing! Repentance is confessing what we know about ourselves. We are sinners. We know the penalty to sin, but God is merciful to forgive us. Have you taken that intentional step to confess yourself before God? Are you intentional about walking away from your old self? Have you completely surrendered your life to Christ? Is your heart surrendered to His way, His will, His purpose, or are you still walking in your own prideful selfish way?
God desires to give you an abundant life, but until we crucify all we are with Christ, we will stay stuck where we are. Only by laying it all down and choosing to walk away from it can we receive ALL God has to give to us.
Isaiah then says, Start looking ahead. He says see God bring a newness into your life and anticipate something great is coming. When we look forward to the new things of God, we need to be careful to not make an “idol” out of new. We need to stay vigelent that our ears do not itch for new fads or experiences that count for nothing. We do nto give glory to the new things, but glory to a God who brings new things. Its easy to fall into that trap. God says to us, I am doing something new in your life today, can you see it and discern it?
What new things has the Lord brought to your life?
He brought us out of slavery and sin and saved us from a certain death, but this is not the destination He brought you to. So often we get off the train here and figure this is it. This is all God has for me. We may even decide this is all “we want from God.” I am saved and no longer need anything else from God.
But God says, I have something better and different for you! He needs us to keep moving forward, even though its dangerous, hostile, and inhospitable. Isaiah writes, He is making a path int he wilderness. The world is not a kind place. We are going to encounter trails, temptations, and all sorts of evil, but God says do not stop, keep going. I am making a path through it all and I will refresh you with streams of living water as you walk in obedience to Me.
We intentionally set our hearts and our minds upon walking away from what was, and strive towards what will be.
God has a fresh start for us this year! Let us put our hearts into anticipating something great from Him. When we do, He promises to remove our obstacles.
31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
Romans 8:31-39
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Whatever holds you back, no longer has control over you. Jesus is our in the deserts and streams. He transforms our desert into fields of blessings and our wasteland into gardens of abundance.
Believe God IS!
It Starts Small 
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