Eyes Up! Perceive the new!

 

“Forget the former things;

    do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

    and streams in the wasteland." - God 

(Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)

Wearily our world approaches the turning over of the year.  

After the battering years of 2020 and 2021, it's pretty normal to wonder, "What next?!" and approach 2022 with a feeling of trepidation.

Why would God tell us to "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past?" Probably because in times of strife and trouble it's pretty easy to get stuck in the struggles of our circumstances.   

We can find ourselves stuck in our anxiety, worries, fears, and so much more.  The circumstances - and the feelings - are real.  But God doesn't want us to dwell on them - to be stuck in them - because he wants to show us what he is doing.  He wants our "Eyes Up!" 

When God says he's doing a "new thing," we may not be able to see it yet.  But we have to trust in the character of our faithful, loving, omnipotent and omniscient God who will never leave us, forsake us, or lie to us.  If he says he's doing a "new thing," he is. 

If he says he's making a way in the wilderness of our lives - the chaos, struggles, strife, and general craziness that have been so prevalent in these past two years - then he is.  

If he says he's bringing streams of Living Water - rivers in the desert - places of refreshment to dry parts of lives - then he is.  

Yes, we have to have faith  - confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we don't see YET.  But our faithful God IS bringing a way in the wilderness for the dry and weary places in our lives to be refreshed and restored in his presence. 

Don't see it yet in your own life?  Maybe that's why the prophet Isaiah asked his listeners:  "Do you not perceive it?" 

To "perceive" is to become aware or conscious of something, to come to realize or understand, to interpret or look on (someone or something) in a particular way.

Even if your life circumstances, your finances, your health, your feelings, your relationships - what seems like your entire life - seems to be in a state of chaos, is it possible to perceive God is working?  

Yes.  

It is possible to become conscious of ways in which God is moving.  It is possible to realize and understand small, everyday miracles are a gift.  It is possible to look at our world and our circumstances through a different lens - through a heart that says, "I don't see the New Thing yet, but I will have faith and trust God for it.  I will have my eyes up so I can see the ways in which God is giving us hope in the midst of despair, belief in a sea of doubt, and faith in the midst of fear. 

I will raise my eyes up to the "mountain" of God's protection, provision, healing, grace, and love. When my eyes are up and my focus is on God, then I can perceive what God wants me to know.  And then I can see the streams of hope in the desert of despair.

Today, I will keep my eyes up!

Faithful God,

Thank you for the gifts of your goodness, your presence, and your grace in our lives.  Thank you for your protection and provision for us, especially in these last two years.  As our calendar turns over another year, help us to release the struggles, strife, worries, and fears of our past and to move forward in hope.  Help us to perceive the new things you are doing in our lives and our world.  Cause us to keep the eyes of our hearts focused on you and you alone.   Help us to have faith and confidence in what you are doing, even if we don't see it yet. Protect us from despair, doubt, and fear, and fill us with hope, belief, and faith.  We pray in Jesus's name, Amen!

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." 

(Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

1

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?

2 

My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 

indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

6 

the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;

8 

the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

(Psalm 121 NIV)

I Will Believe Now and in the Future - Psalm 37

 Adapted from Psalm 37

I will not fret because of those who are evil, for like green plants they will soon wither and die away.

I will trust in the Lord and do good, dwelling in God and his safety.

I will take delight in the Lord and he will give me the desires of my heart.

I will commit my way to the Lord.

I will trust him and he will make my righteous reward and my vindication shine like the dawning light that turns to midday sun.

I will be still and I will wait patiently for God.  

I will not fret when the wicked succeed in carrying out their wicked schemes.

I will refrain from anger and turn from wrath. 

I will not fret - it only leads to evil.

I will believe that evil people will be destroyed and I will hope in the Lord and inherit the land.

I will believe that in a little while the wicked will not be found because they are no more.

I will believe that those who humbly depend on the grace and goodness of God and are not arrogant toward others will inherit the land. 

I will believe - in the future and for my future - that I will enjoy peace and prosperity.

I will believe that the Lord laughs at the wicked who plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them because he knows the day of vengeance is coming. 

I will believe that when the wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy and slay the upright, their swords will pierce their own hearts and their bows will be broken.

I will believe the righteous are better with little than the wicked are with wealth. 

I will believe - now and in the future - that the power of the wicked will be broken.

I will believe - now and in the future - that the Lord my God, strong and mighty, invincible in battle, will uphold the righteous. 

I will believe the blamelsss will be under the Lord's care, will not wither in times of disaster, will enjoy plenty in days of famine, and forever will have their inheritance.

I will believe the Lord's enemies - as common as flowers in the field - will be consumed like in smoke and will perish.

I will believe those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed. 

I will believe the Lord firms up the steps of the ones who delight in him. They may stumble but will not fall because the Lord upholds them with his hand.

I will believe the righteous will never be forsaken or their children begging bread.

I will believe that when we turn from evil and do good we will dwell in the land - God's land - forever.  

I will believe that the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. 

I will believe wrongdoers will be completely destroyed and the offspring of the wicked will perish.  But the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

I will believe the mouths of the righteous speak wisdom and justice, because the law of their God is in their hearts. 

I will believe that although the wicked be in wait for the righteous, intent on destroying them, the Lord will not leave the righteous in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned. 

I will hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt me to inherit the land and I will see the flourishing wicked and ruthless people destroyed.

I will believe that the blameless and upright who seek peace will have a bright future, but sinners and the wicked will be destroyed and have no future.

I will believe the salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord, their stronghold in times of trouble. 

I will believe the Lord helps the righteous and delivers them from the wicked.  He saves them because they take refuge in him. 

God of Justice and Mercy,

Thank you for your righteousness and justice and that all you do is good.  Thank you for the promises that you will break the power of the wicked and uphold the righteous.  Thank you that you love the just and will not forsake your faithful people.  Strengthen our courage and our faith in these days of trial and strife.  For your children, be the protection and peace in the midst of the demonic storms that swirl around us.  But destroy the power of the enemy of our souls and destroy all those who will not turn from their wickedness, injustice, and evil. We pray in the strong name of Jesus Christ our Savior, AMEN and AMEN.