(Isaiah 43:18-19)
Can you name some things that are holding you captive in your life? You ask, what are you talking about? Maybe a better question is: Are there things that are holding you back from being a better person, a more productive person, a moral person? To dig deeper: Is there sin in your life that has you captive, and is leading you down a very destructive path?
Whenever we approach a new year, we tend to take inventory on our lives. It is a time of personal examination and evaluation. So as you look in the mirror of 2025, what does your life look like?
In our text God is wanting the people of Israel to take inventory on their lives. And there are two things He tells them (and us) to do.
1. Forget The Former Things.
God always wanted His people to remember how He delivered them from their bondage in Egypt (43:16-17), but because of their sin, they ended up in Babylonian captivity (the things of old).
He wanted them to not dwell in the past and constantly focus on their defeat and despair. God wants us to do the same. In 2025, let's not dwell in the painful past, but let's position ourselves to receive God's future blessing.
2. Look At The New Thing God Is Doing.
What is this new thing? He will "make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
God will lead us out of our captivity, to times of refreshing peace. He will change our hearts, and our lives, if only we will let Him. He wants to do a new thing in us, and through us. Why in the world, won't we let Him? Only we can answer that!
A friend who is a heart transplant cardiologist has an appreciation of Ezekiel 36:26 that not many of us can understand. Mike manages the pre-operation and post-operation care for heart-transplant patients. He’s often in the operating room as surgeons remove diseased, discolored hearts and replace them with vibrant, pink “new” donor hearts.
Mike explains that the process for selecting who gets a “new” physical heart is similar to who can get a “new heart” from God (Ezek. 36:26). In both cases, need alone is the criterion.
(Our Daily Bread 2/29/2012)
In your life, do you need a new heart, a new life, free from the captivity of sin and death.
God specializes in placing in us a new heart, a new desire to love and obey Him, and receive His eternal blessings.
In 2025, will you let God change you from the inside out. Will you let Him, make the changes that only He can do? GP
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