Tag Archives: Isaiah 43:18-19

Do You Not Perceive It?

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 79 - Isaiah 43-18-19 - Do You Not Perceive It? - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 79 – Isaiah 43-18-19 – Do You Not Perceive It? – Growing As Disciples

“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 desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Being Perceptive

That is not my strongest gift. What is not your strongest gift? I have not been very perceptive in life. Why is that true? What has prevented you from being perceptive? That is a question without an easy answer. That is a question that has multiple answers that might offer an explanation as to why I have not been very perceptive in life. Let me hear your answers. I should start by being clear. That is a good place to start. Generally, I have not been very perceptive in life in many regards. But in this case, I am thinking and talking about not being perceptive to your activity in and around me. Maybe what generally causes you to lack perception to other things also negatively impacts your being perceptive to me. I am sure there is some overlap. I suppose I should just start describing my lack of perception and see where we end up. That sounds good to me. Alright then, I tend to be very busy. Busyness has often blinded me to what is going on around me. Focusing narrowly on the task at hand has blinded me to the larger picture. It’s like I can see the individual trees but not the whole forest. How is that for a metaphor? That is a pretty good description of one of your problems. You seldom pause and step back to look around at the larger perspective. Yes, that is true. You would do well to live with a couple questions. What questions would those be? Ask me, “What am I doing in and around you today?” Ask me, “How can I join you in what you are doing today?”

But we have jumped ahead and left your main problem too soon, haven’t we? Yes, I think so. Tell me what is your main problem? What most hinders you from perceiving the new thing I am doing in and around you? I’m often stuck in the past. Many times, I have allowed myself to be dragged down, discouraged, and depressed by my own sins. Frequently, I have failed to fully accept your forgiveness and cleansing. When I am in this mode, it is hard to see anything but myself, and how I have taken missteps, made mistakes, and sinned against you. How will you ever be able to move forward with me if your heart and mind and eyes are not on me? How will you ever be able to perceive and join me in the new thing I am doing if you can’t forget the past, receive your forgiveness, and cleansing, and move forward with me? That is the point, isn’t it? Yes, it is. I want you to live the new life I have given to you. Forget the past. It is gone. It is forgiven. It is forgotten. Keep your heart and mind and life focused me. Perceive and join me in what I am doing. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I have allowed former things to drag me down, discourage and depress me. This is, no doubt, a trick of the devil. I will no longer dwell on the past. I will focus my heart, mind, and life on you. Help me to perceive and join you in the new thing you are doing. Amen

Key Question…  When have you perceived and joined the Lord in the new thing that He was doing?

Living It Out…  Keep your heart and mind and life focused on the Lord so you can perceive and join Him in the new thing He is doing.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to perceive and join Him in the new thing He is doing.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are perceiving and joining the Lord in what He is doing.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you forget the things of the past so you can perceive what God is doing now.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Devotional Study Guide click here

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 79 – Isaiah 43-18-19 – Do You Not Perceive It? – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

A New Thing!

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 119 - Isaiah 43:18-19 - A New Thing!- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 119 – Isaiah 43:18-19 – A New Thing!- Growing As Disciples

“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 desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Something New

I am doing something new; do you want to see it? Of course, I want to see what you are doing. Who wouldn’t want to see something new that you are doing? Won’t the new thing you are doing be easy to spot? Shouldn’t the new thing you are doing be readily apparent to me? You might think so, you might guess so, but you would be wrong. Why is that? There are many reasons why people fail to perceive something new that I am doing. Can you give me examples? Can you help my understanding? Can you give me your wisdom and insight? Now, there you go. You have asked some great questions. You want understanding and wisdom and insight. You want to see the something new that I am doing. To see the something new I am doing that desire must be in you. Many could care less about what I am doing in the world. Really, that seems hard to believe. It’s true, many have their focus entirely elsewhere. Their eyes are on the past. How will that prevent someone from seeing the something new you are doing? They may be weighed down by the heavy burden of past failures and regrets. They may be living on glory of past accomplishments. They may be stuck in bitterness and unforgiveness over some way that they have been mistreated and hurt by others. For whatever reason, their focus is everywhere, but on me. They are wrapped up tightly in their own little world that revolves entirely around themselves. They are blinded to the something new that I am doing because they are not looking for it. That’s not good. Now, it is not.

What must I do so I can see the something new that you are doing? You must take your focus off yourself. You must let go off the past. Past failures and regrets are forgiven and forgotten. Past hurts are healed. Past accomplishments and achievements are behind you. Turn your focus on to me. Keep your heart and mind and eyes and ears open. Be attentive. Be watching. Be listening. Be expectant. Be looking forward, not backward. Have faith that I am and will be doing a new thing in, for, and through you. Follow me to where I am leading you. Join in on the work I will give you to do for me. My hand is on you. My favor is with you. I will make you able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. I will use you to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. I will do all that you have asked of me. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will let go and forget former things. I will not dwell on the past. I will put all that is not helpful far behind me. I will keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. Where are you leading me? What new thing do you want to do in, for, or through me? Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Promises – Day 119 – Isaiah 43-18-19 – A New Thing! – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide.pdf

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

A New Thing

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Isaiah 43:18-19 - A New Thing - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Isaiah 43:18-19 – A New Thing – Growing As Disciples

“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 desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

No Way

So, you think that there is no way. Did I say that or did I only think that? What difference does it make? Well, if I thought something but didn’t say it, I might not have accepted it as being true. Let’s talk about your thoughts. What do you have in mind? I want you to move forward with me. I want you to follow me to where I am leading you. I want you to do what I am asking you to do for me. What do my thoughts have to do with going where you guide me and doing what you ask of me? That’s a good question. What kind of thoughts have hindered your ability to go and do what I have asked of you? In the past? Yes, in the past. In the past I have doubted that I could hear you. I have wondered if you were speaking to me. I wasn’t sure that I could know and do your will. I thought maybe I was alone in the world. Because I had these thoughts, I didn’t listen for your advice or seek your counsel. I wandered from one thing to another. I stumbled around in life. I made very little progress. I took one step forward and three steps back. What do you think now? Now, I know that I can hear your voice leading and guiding me through life. I am waiting for your instructions. I am following your advice. You are helping me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. So, you have put away these former thoughts.  You are not dwelling on your past inability to hear my voice? No, I am not. That’s good.

What other thoughts have hindered your ability to go and do what I asked of you? I thought that everything depended on me. I thought, if something was going to be accomplished it would have to be my gifts and talents and abilities that would get it done. What do you think about these thoughts now? They are ridiculous. They are so limiting. They are completely paralyzing. What do you mean by that? With these thoughts I would never go and do what you asked of me. Why is that? You have always asked me to go and do what I cannot possibly do. You want me to rely on you working in and through me. You want to accomplish what only you can do in and through me. You want me to know without a doubt that what was accomplished was accomplished by your power and strength rather than by my own limited gifts, talents and abilities. That’s right. So, you put away these former thoughts. You are not dwelling on your past failures because you once relied solely on yourself? No, I am not. Are you ready for me to do new things? Are you ready for me to use your life in new ways? Yes Lord, I am.  Then there is a way, that I will provide. I am ready to take that new way that you will provide. My heart and mind and eyes are open to what you want to do in and through my life. I’m glad to hear that from you.

Lord, I have had a hard time moving on from the past. I have dwelt on painful experiences. I have allowed the past to hinder me from being engaged in the present. Open my heart, mind and eyes to what you are doing now. Turn my barrenness into fruitfulness. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Wisdom – Isaiah 43-18-19 – A New Thing – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com