Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 12
Saturday


NEW
BEGINNINGS

READ:
Isaiah 43:14-21
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Behold, I will do a
new thing, now it shall
spring forth; shall you
not know it?
__Isaiah 43:19
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New beginnings are possible. Just ask Brayan, a young man who joined a gang in elementary school. Brayan ran away when he was 12 years old, and for 3 years was lost in gang and drug life. Although he left the gang and returned home, it was difficult for him, as he had been expelled from school for selling drugs. When he enrolled in a new high school, however, a teacher inspired and encouraged him to write about his experiences rather than repeat them. He embraced the challenge and is now experiencing a fresh start.

God, through the prophet Isaiah, encouraged Jewish exiles to think about a new beginning as well. God said, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old" (Isa. 43:18). He told them to stop dwelling on their punishment and even on His display of power through the original exodus from Egypt. He wanted their attention to be focused on God who would give them a new beginning by bringing them home from Babylon through a new exodus (v.19).

With God, new beginnings are possible in our hearts. He can help us to let go of the past and start clinging to Him. Relationship with Him provides a new hope for all who will trust Him. __Marvin Williams

```````````````````````Lord, we need your touch on our lives.```````````````````````````
`````````````````````Work in our hearts in whatever areas need`````````````````````````
`````````````````````a fresh start. Help us to do our part and to````````````````````````
```````````````````````trust You to do what only You can do.```````````````````````````
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God gives fresh starts from the inside out.

*********************************today's Bible Reading __ Isaiah 43:14-21*********************************

14 Thus says the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy
One of Israel: "For your
sake I will send to Babylon,
and bring them all down as
fugitives__the Chaldeans,
who rejoice in their ships.

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. 20 The beast of the
field will honor Me, the
jackals and the ostriches,
becasue I give waters in the
wilderness and rivers in the
desert, to give drink to My
poeple, My chosen. 21 This
people I have formed for
Myself; they shall declare
My praise."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In today's reading, we see the Hebrew remnant facing the arduous
trek back to the Promised Land and the demands of rebuilding
their lives. Certainly, a feeling of insecurity must have filled their
hearts. Yet the Lord was with them and would provide protection
and success. Today, believers also need to trust in God's provision.
Inevitably, challenges of transition, new circumstances, and an
uncertain future can cause anxiety. Yet the living God gives us this
promise: "I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the
desert" (v.19). No matter what difficulties we encounter, God will
find a way for us.