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New Thing!?

I have a friend who lives in another state and he is considering a major transition in life.  I have a few other ministry friends that are considering either starting a church or going to the mission field in another country.  I can’t help but think of Isaiah 43:18-19.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
¹⁸ “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹ 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.

The story of God that intersects the story of the individual is all about doing a “new thing”.  God begins with a new creation in Christ.  He then leads us on a journey into “new things”. 

Whether God is leading you to a “new” geographic location, or if he is simply leading you to consider a new job or a new church, here are some thoughts about the “new thing”.

• Embrace the idea that God is constantly working in you to do something new.
• Know that it always should center around who we are becoming “in Christ” and how he is forming us into the image and character of Jesus.
• In doing something new, God very often begins with a “Holy Discontent” for who we are and for the lack of godliness in us and around us.
• Make sure that our discontent is not a result of relational strife or a “consumer” mentality because we are not getting our way where we are.
• Sometimes the “new thing” has nothing to do with leaving somewhere and going to another place, it simply is about taking us into a new direction spiritually and in our character.

What is God doing in you that you could characterize as a “new thing”.  God is in the re-creating business and it is out of his character to continually do something new in our lives. 

What is He doing new in your life?