“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland…” – Isaiah 43:18-20

Back in 1994 following my accident, I came to some crossroads which prompted for a decision. A decision to move forward with my life. A decision that would alter who I used to be and who I was to become. I have to be honest and express that it was one of the most frightening, challenging things I had ever done. In order for me to move forward with my life, I had to “forget the former things” that had happened to me and trust God with my future for which He was leading me into. I enrolled into college at the age of thirty four in the Fall of ’97 to begin a new career. A career that I had no idea would eventually materialize in my life and would allow me to use knowledge and skills that I had no idea even existed within me. Looking back during that chapter in my life, I’m amazed every time I think of all that God has miraculously accomplished in my life.

Choosing to “forget the former things” in our lives is a conscious and willful decision we have to make. God has such great plans for each and every one of us. Plans that dwarf ours in comparison to nothing. I’ve heard it said that “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans”. I can almost visually picture God with a huge belly laugh at this statement. Scripture tells us in Proverbs 19:21 that Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. God desires to bring us into a rich fulfilling and satisfying life filled with new growth and meaning as we trust Him in all we do. This scripture was fulfilled in my life many years ago when I willfully had to “forget former things” that had happened in my life and trust God with where He was leading me. Although I had no idea how He was accomplishing this, my obligation was to trust and know that He was doing it each and every day. Proverbs 16:9 says The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. If we truly believe that God is faithful, that he is sovereign and will do as He says He will do, there shouldn’t be any reason that we should not be willing to trust Him in every circumstance of our lives.

The year 2014 may have brought you some difficulties, storms, health issues or possibly even the loss of a dear loved one. Let me encourage you friend that there is absolutely nothing that God allows into our lives that He cannot use to bring us into this “new growth” as I mentioned above. A tree does not develop it’s roots overnight nor does it produce it’s leaves or fruit either. There are seasons the tree must endure to complete the process as is the case of our lives and experiences we are allowed to go through in order for this new grow to take place.

On the other hand, I know without a doubt God has been so good and merciful to each of us. He has faithfully brought us through another year of blessings. I think of my grandson that continues to bring me such joy each time I look into his eyes and see the love he has for his “Pops”. These are the blessings that I call “priceless”.

As you move into 2015, may I encourage you to reflect on God’s goodness and know that once again He has even greater things in store for you in the coming year.

“Heavenly Father, I pray over each one reading this right now. I pray that You would fulfill Your perfect will in each of these lives. I pray over their families and pray Your favor over each one. I pray for a year of peace, divine health and prosperity for them. Most of all, I pray that they would come to know You as their loving Father in a more intimate way this year as they surrender their will to Yours. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen”.