Based on past performance, many of us can attest that doing a new thing is hard. This is where some of us fall off the cliff — or don’t even try! It takes determination to not allow past performance to thwart us from trying or doing a new thing!
Doing a new thing is tough. Especially when that new thing takes will power or money — few of us have much of either. And, as we age, we have this daunting fear that past results (things that were good before they stopped being good) don’t necessarily mean that today’s performance will yield the same success results. :o(
I think the devil delights in our doubts as much a he delights in our failings… surely he does when we doubt God or doubt our faith. But he also delights in sabotaging our efforts seek the Lord and to do good. Sometimes he’s successful at both. We mustn’t doubt for a moment that we do have an enemy that hates for us to yield to God, hates for us to seek the Lord — especially seeking the Lord early – hates for us to be faithful to the calling of the Lord in our lives.
I say this because I want to suggest that any attempt to do good or to do a new thing must be bathed in prayer and executed with the blessing of the Lord. I think failing these two things is what ultimately leads to our failure in doing that new thing — and, certainly, doing it well.
Take daily Bible reading or early rising or prayer or fasting, for example, if we attempt any in our own strength, we’ll fail — but, we know from Scripture, when we commit to seeking the Lord — His will and His righteousness, He will work in and through us — even though it may not look to us (at the time) to be working!
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him;
and He shall bring it to pass.” -Psalm 37.5
So, as we launch out into the vast expanse of this unblemished year, this uncharted territory, we can be assured that the Lord is already here and He does, indeed, have a marvelous plan for each of us. And all the things that face us, all the trials and temptations, all the joys and sorrows, all the successes and failures do not — will not — escape His gaze. He is already there.
Then thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it, that ye not turn to the right hand
and that ye not turn to the left hand. -Isaiah 30.21
As we seek to do a new thing, we must first seek His face, take His hand and and wait! and see! if that’s where He wants to lead us. I truly see Him doing a new thing… I want to follow Him in it… this is the first day of all our tomorrows… O, may we do a new thing… in faith!
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;
shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert. -Isaiah 43.19