“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:18,19
The beauty of these words goes beyond its flow and poetry; these words hold out God’s incredible promise to His people that things will not stay the same, and that Redemption will look different and new. Biblical scholars point out that to the ancient people of Israel, the coming Christ and the radical impact that the Gospel would make on their world as they knew it would be both new and different.
These verses above also point out that there comes a time when we are called to forget what is behind and to eagerly look forward. We are encouraged to embrace change, even when it isn’t completely understood by our finite minds. We are advised to “behold” the Lord’s mighty hand at work, as He paves our way in to new adventures with Him, and as He nourishes new opportunities with His power.
In this year of 2016, we at Given the Time have been called exactly to this place. Since 2010 we have strived to obediently listen to the Spirit of God and to encourage Real Women, existing in Real Life, with Real Truth. Each year God has faithfully led, and this year is no different. God has clearly led each member of our editing team to set aside our previous pattern and to watch eagerly as He does something new and different. We do look back on the unity and joy we experienced as a blogging team with pleasure. And the many thousands of views this blog has enjoyed, we think of these with gratitude to God and awe because they represent real people who God has allowed us to interact with, but we won’t get stuck in former things. We plan to seek out the promises God has made us in His Word, and if He leads us to do so, we will post our insights, but no longer will be posting blogs on any type of schedule.
This is New! Really different! A little scary! Yet, so very exciting! May God bless your 2016 as you also seek out and claim His promises for you!