22 March 2014 by Mindy Oon CM-
Throughout the Bible, God has been giving people fresh starts.
Moses had an encounter with a burning bush and was called to lead a nation; David, a shepherd boy was anointed to be King of Israel; Peter was forgiven and called to spend the rest of his life preaching and glorifying God although he denied Christ; and Paul, who persecuted God’s people was transformed on the way to Damascus and he ended up writing many books in the New Testament.
God has redeemed so many people, and He can do the same for you. Have you ever felt that you were too far gone to come back to your heavenly Father? God is a God of ‘do overs’. He is a God who gives second chances.
He is big in giving fresh starts and new beginnings. However, sometimes we do not realize what God can do when we surrender to Him because we are stuck in the past and unable to move into the plans that He has for us.
Isaiah 62:2-4 says, ‘The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth. The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see – a splendid crown in the hand of God. Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.’ Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride.’
Stuck in a Moment
For some of us, we may be stuck, frozen in a moment. It might be due to past abuse, or it might be due to personal failure or maybe even things that are beyond your control.
You may think that it’s too late for things to happen, but it is never too late to have a fresh start when Christ is in our lives.
The past does not define your future, and Joel 2:25-26 says ‘And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten – the hopping locust, the stripping locus, and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame.”
Get Out of the Boat!
Jeremiah 29:11 says ‘ For I know the plans I have for you. Plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ According to this well-quoted verse, we all have a bright future ahead of us.
Problem is, sometimes we are afraid to step into what God has in store for us, and thus, we don’t see anything happening!
As with Peter, we can’t walk on water if we don’t get out of the boat. It may be something that is really hard to do, but if we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will have nothing to fear.
Many times, God leads but we do not want to go where He is leading us. We need to learn how to yield and surrender instead of revisiting Him. Trust Him and trust where He is taking you.
Baby Steps
2 Corinthians 5:17 says ‘this means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’ When you are born again, you are given a new life.
However, like babies who are learning to walk, we may fall lots of times. But with much trying, they eventually learn to walk, and then run.
We need to do the same thing in our walk with God and in life. When we fall, get on up and take another step. Just keep walking knowing that God is by your side. Do not allow the past to have a hold on you. Choose to move on and move forward.
Always remember that no matter who you are or where you are, if is NEVER too late for a fresh start when you have Christ on your side.
References for pictures
http://moush.com.au/get-unstuck/
http://staywoo.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/heavenly-hump-day-get-out-the-boat-peter/
http://www.blogging4jobs.com/social-media/baby-steps-in-business-the-story-behind-my-passion/
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