First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
There is something about the NEW that seems to get us all in this anticipatory state like nothing else. The idea of opening presents is so delightful because we are about to experience and hold something new in our hands. If you don't have "gifts" as your foremost love language this might not be the complete hype so indulge those of us who do.
That said, there are many ways we experience NEWNESS - It could be in friendship, it could be in a home, it could be in a new career or job, it could be in love. It could even be new life in Christ. Whatever it is, NEWNESS carries much power with it and that is why I am so glad the one I serve is the God of the NEW.
The book of Isaiah in chapter 43 talks about seeing the NEW even where there might be wilderness and dry land. That is a huge challenge for anyone.
Consider these six separate stories
A man in the wilderness for 40 days and nights, the same man awakes from death after 3 days in a tomb, conquering death forever.
A man experiences a wilderness season as he flees from a King who would have him assassinated. The same man became the most famous king to reign over his people.
A youth imprisoned for many many years rose to be second in command to Pharaoh.
A man flees his country and home and lives in obscurity to prevent being killed by a Pharaoh, the same man delivers his people from 400 years of slavery.
A woman barren and scorned for many years, same woman birth’s a son who becomes a mighty prophet for her people.
A woman widowed and in penury, living off her gleaning of farmlands like a common scavenger, same woman becomes wife to her benefactor and as a result becomes part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.
In every story, we can see woven through a pathway revelation to new and magnificent things. Yet those wilderness moments can suggest insurmountable obstacles or mountains that may try to derail us or push us out of our rightful position.
The word NEW represents many things, including transformation, readiness and renewal. I don't know about your but these are certainly some of the expectations on my heart this year for me and my family.
I also believe in order to access the newness that God brings we need to stay in position.
This position I speak of is not a physical representation, it is not our location or circumstance but a spiritual revelation of where we ought to be to receive our pre-packaged gift, our victory, our new.
There is a posture we need to assume, a place we need to accommodate so that we catch on to what is happening on the earth...there is a road we must plough, a mountain we must climb.
Consequently, our position signifies our readiness...
Readiness enables us to enter NEW things with capacity and capability.
Proverbs 31:25
Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!
Based on this, strength and dignity I believe translate as capacity and capability in large measure.
Our staying position necessitates the shepherd's leading and teaching.
1 Corinthians 1:5
So that in Him in every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of speech [to speak of your faith] and complete knowledge and illumination [to give you full insight into its meaning].
If we instead to stay ready we must stay with the Shepherd.
Our staying position necessitates our overflow and ability to bear more fruit, new fruit.
2 Corinthians 8:11-12
So now finish doing it, that your [enthusiastic] readiness in desiring it may be equalled by your completion of it according to your ability and means. For if the [eager] readiness to give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed in proportion to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. (so much to unpack in there)
Our staying position enables our seeing power.
The book of Habakkuk is very short and concise book that speaks of events that will happen. It speaks of an exchange between a man and God, almost a discussion if you like but ultimately there was a requirement for the man to see....
His ability to see was possible because of his position
In Chapter 2, it says, [Oh, I know, I have been rash to talk out plainly this way to God!] I will [in my thinking] stand upon my post of observation and station myself on the tower or fortress, and will watch to see what He will say within me and what answer I will make [as His mouthpiece] to the perplexities of my complaint against Him.
2 And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.
The phrase "station myself" speaks so strongly to me and hope it does to you as well because the verse goes on to say it is from this position he watches and sees what God is about despite his own personal challenges. The writer of Habakkuk appreciates that what ever the challenge, the compliant, the adversity or problem he has, God sees something completely different.
I so hope this year you get yourself in position on the tower so you can see what God has in mind and go further to make it plain so that people begin to run with it because we are stronger together!
Over the next couple of episodes I am aspiring to share with you what NEWNESS really means, I want to share what we do to stay in position and I want to explore biblical events that demonstrate how we stay in position!
Be blessed!
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