The Season Where All Things Are New (part three)

Hey, beautiful people!

Welcome to part 3 of my devotional series "The Season Where All Things Are New." For the past few weeks we have been tackling the challenges of entering into the newness or new season that God has set before us. We have made it clear that, in order to receive the newness that God has for us, we must not only make room for new wine, but we must also become new (put on new wine skin). When we allow this to happen, it's not just outward change, but it's an inward shift in your thinking (repentance). Last week, I left you with the question: "what is the significance of repentance when entering a new season?" Before we dive in, you know the drill.....Grab your coffee, tea, or whatever drink suits your fancy, and let's see what Holy Spirit has to say!

As we established, last week's question was.....

What is the significance of repentance when entering a new season?

Do you remember our definition for repentance? Remember that repentance is the Greek word "metanoia," which means to change your mind or in other words, adjust/reshape/modify the way you think. "Don't think the same way that you used to."

It's important to change our minds because it leads us to transformation just like our scripture from last week stated. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬......

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”

So repentance allows you to change your thinking, be transformed and to discern God's will as you continue to live a beautiful life that is pleasing to Him.

Someone who allows themselves to be susceptible to change opens themselves to be a willing vessel for God to use, and they also have the knowledge that God is known to move differently in each season.

In Isaiah 43, most people try to say that the prophet Isaiah contradicts what the Lord is telling him, but you have to understand how the Lord has dealt with Israel and the many ways He has revealed Himself to them. Verses 15-19 state, “ 15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.” 16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters, 17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick): “18 Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 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.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

To summarize this passage of scripture, the prophet Isaiah is telling Israel what the Lord is saying. He's reminding them of some of the things that He has done for them before. The contradiction comes in verse 18. He tells them to "do not remember the things of old," but in the verses before, He's bringing back what He has done in the past for them to their remembrance. Why is the Lord speaking this through Isaiah? Why would He contradict Himself?

Well, He does it on purpose. He reminds them of the different things that He has done for them in the past so they can remember that the Lord has made ways for them before and will continue to make ways for them in the present and future. This is why He says in verse 19, " Behold, I will do a new thing," meaning, He's the same God and has the same power, but don't look for Him to move the same way in each season. They were to look for Him in new ways, and so are we.

In this season where all things are new, don't expect to find God moving and showing up the way He did two seasons before. God is multifaceted, not a facet. He's the same God, but He's constantly revealing Himself to us in new ways on how He will walk through this new season with us, and this is all apart of discernment from Holy Spirit when we allow repentance to take place. When we allow repentance to take place, we don't put God in a box to confine Him to moving and working in one way, instead, we realize the multifacetedness of His nature.

Change your mind about God in this new season to allow yourself to experience transformation and to be set in the path of living the "beautiful life satisfying and perfect in his eyes."

-Taleigh E. Reed

Devotional question: How has God revealed Himself to you in this new season? How have you transformed?

Thanks for reading! Next week is all about: What happens after we reconstruct our thinking?