Doing a new thing

As I went to the polling station last month, I did so with a sense of trepidation. Inside me was a deep-seated desire to see an example of leadership that was just, wise, truthful, and full of integrity. I wonder if you felt the same.

We now enter a new beginning. How you feel about the outcome at the polls, of course, will vary from reader to reader. However, it got me thinking about new beginnings and how our God — the God of all seasons — often offers us a new beginning.

Springing up

Isaiah 43:19 tells us, ‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert’ (ESV).

This verse proclaims the news of Jesus as the ‘new thing,’ the Saviour of humanity, the doing away with daily atonement and sacrifices in favour of a new — once and for all — moment in history. The verse also highlights what each of us must do as we enter a new season — some, perhaps, rather
reluctantly.

The Bible tells us we must ‘behold’ — or see — that God is doing something new. This sounds obvious, but there are times when we can get distracted or bogged down with life. In doing so, we miss the small cloud on the horizon, or the green shoots beginning to push through the soil.

At other times, change can hit us in a fast and furious way that’s less easy to ignore. But, as followers of Christ, we need to look past what seems to be happening in the world around us and perceive the new thing God is doing in our lives, in our families, our communities and in our world.

We need to be people who choose to see past the often very visceral circumstances in our lives to realise where God is on the move.

The account in 2 Kings 6:15-17 illustrates this point:

‘When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

‘“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

‘And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha’ (NIV).

Teeming with life

Because Elisha’s servant couldn’t see what the Lord was doing, he was afraid. But as God opened his eyes, he saw how they were actually surrounded and protected. There was nothing to fear. May God open the eyes of our hearts to see the new things He is doing.

The Scripture from Isaiah 43 reminds us that when God does a new thing, it makes seasons or circumstances that have originally been hard, dry and barren begin to teem with life.

Where we have felt lost or confused, He says He will make a way. God’s ‘new thing’ changes our path or perspective — sometimes both!

Each day offers us a unique chance to begin again. Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that God’s faithful love never ends, and that His mercies are new every morning.

God’s disposition to us every day is one of loyal love. Regardless of what happened yesterday, His mercy is directed to us in a fresh way every single day of our lives.

This seems like the ideal moment to introduce myself as the new Prayer Communications Lead at MAF, a role I am honoured to fulfil. I look forward to praying with you, sharing the prayer needs of our life-saving organisation and celebrating MAF’s triumphs and breakthroughs.

As I settle in and learn more about our work, I am constantly in awe of the amazing difference MAF makes across the globe, and how God has continually used people who have obediently followed His call on their lives.

I know prayer is a pivotal part of this and I hope to be a passionate advocate and steward of prayer during my time here.

Together, let us welcome the new things God wants to do in our lives, in our churches and in our communities. May God give us eyes to see where He is working, and the faith needed to follow Him into new things.

May we be bold as an organisation and as individuals to follow the path God is carving out for us.

Response

• Ask God to show you somewhere in your life or community where He is ‘doing a new thing’. If you find it difficult to perceive it — like the servant in 2 Kings — ask God to open your eyes.
• Pray for MAF and any new plans that might be on the horizon. Pray for courage and wisdom to step out. Pray that God will help us to see where He is doing a ‘new thing’ and be bold enough to step into it.
• An example of new things is our partnership with Water Matters Sweden in Kenya, whose programme seeks to distribute life-saving water filters to more than 17 remote locations. Please pray that this initiative will be successful and will change many people’s lives.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. May God bless you as you serve Him daily.

Jess Soames, Prayer Communications Lead

The photo above this devotion is such a beautiful example of ‘perceiving’ properly. The mountains behind the fog and the MAF plane on the left are barely visible, so you could be forgiven for missing both. Lord, give us eyes to see what You are doing!