Do not call to mind the former things,

or ponder things of the past.

Behold, I will do something new,

Now it will spring forth;

Will you not be aware of it?

Isaiah 43:18-19

I have made the mistake of looking back. Looking back at times when God healed me, instantly and not so instantly. I’ve even looked back on days when my walk with the Lord was more spontaneous, more joyful than it is right now and yearned for a return to those days.  Then I read this verse and am encouraged to look ahead, to whatever the something new is that God wants to do in my life. I don’t want to miss it because I am looking back and making comparisons.

How easy we can fall into the trap of believing God is going to do something the way He did before. All too easy to build doctrine on experiences and then limit God to our expectations. When Jesus walked on the earth, though, and healed people, He used different methods. Once He put spit in someone’s eye (I’d rather we didn’t build a doctrine on that!). Another time, He spoke the word of healing over a person and still another time, He simply touched them. Once, instead of ministering physical healing, He extended forgiveness for sins and followed that with “be healed.” If we were to camp out on the things of the past, perhaps He would have used one method and encouraged us to stick with it, but He didn’t.

Whatever my pathway to healing, whatever my walk with the Lord is, I only have this present moment.  Your pathway to healing, whatever your walk with the Lord is, you only have this present moment. While I can reflect on the past healings and be grateful, I can’t build my doctrine on them and create a pattern for healing. I want to be aware of the something new He wants to do in my life when that newness springs forth. I can appreciate those healings and those days for what they were, but I need to appreciate these days, more specifically this day for what it is, for all that God has for me…today. When God does a new thing, I will be amazing, of that I am sure.  Equally sure that God is desiring to do a new thing in your life as well. 

Help me Lord to appreciate today for what it is – a chance for a new beginning, a day with Your mercies for me being brand new, a day to see You do a new thing in my life, a day full of opportunities and blessings waiting for me to discover. Forgive me for all the days I have lost contemplating an old thing, even a wonderful old thing like the ways You healed me. You who healed me yesterday are the same today and forever and I praise You for that. I ask that You lead me on this new pathway to healing, help me to be open to the methods that You decide are best for me, help me to humbly follow and graciously accept what You are doing in my life, today. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.

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