Have you ever been in a situation when you are working on something and your computer freezes up? How about doing something online and the internet just stops working? Most of us almost immediately know that the remedy 9 times out of 10 is to simply restart or hit the reset button. If something is not working properly oftentimes resetting it allows it to begin functioning properly. Our lives are not much more different than a computer or router. Sometimes, our signals get jammed. Maybe we have to much going on at the same time and its bogging us down. Every now and then it’s good to get a fresh start and hit the reset button.
As I was praying about this NEW year and seeking God for direction for the church I heard Him say, “Hit the reset button”. The beginning of the year seems like a perfect time for a NEW start! Isaiah 43:18,19 NKJV, says “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a NEW thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” While it is not wrong to reminisce about the good old days God was saying to the children of Israel to not focus on the difficulties and tragedies of the past because He was doing something NEW for them. The same goes for us today. He is the God that makes all things NEW. And when He does you will absolutely know it is He that does it!
One of the NEW things that God wants to do in our lives is directly related to miracles, signs, and wonders. How do we know this? He said that He would make roads in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Only God can make the extraordinary ordinary. I know, many people feel like God doesn’t do miracles anymore. However, He says Himself, “For I am the Lord, I do not change…” He is still doing great things today on the behalf of His people. Why? Because He loves us, wants to bless us, and glorify Himself through us.
In Isaiah 43:20, He says that the reason why He causes rivers in the desert was “to give drink to my people”. Water is the source of life. We can’t go without it too long and keep living. It provides sustenance that is necessary for life. In the bible water is often used symbolically of the Spirit. When Jesus met the women at the well in John chapter 4 He talked to her about the living water that He provides. Natural water may quench your thirst, but you will always need another bottle. When we drink of the everlasting water that God provides we will never thirst again. John 7:37-39, says, …” If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” He has long since been glorified and we have been graced with the precious gift of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to take the miracle working power of God to the world.
Don’t disqualify yourself because you believe that miracles are past. The greatest miracle is the new birth. Every time we are led by the Spirit to lead someone to Christ and that person becomes a NEW creature, what a miracle! We must “reset” our thinking of God and what He wants to do through us. So much more is available to us but we oftentimes out of fear reject what we don’t understand. Let 2019 be a year where we believe God for his power working through us like never before. To God alone, be the glory.