Feb 29: Isaiah 43:16-21
Key Verse: Isaiah 43:18
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Devotion:
One of the things which has always held mankind back is doubt and fear of what is ahead. God has tried to encourage us to move forward, to look forward and, above all, to trust in Him. When we look forward we get scared because we cannot foretell the future. When we look back we focus on all the bad things which have happened and we become scared of them happening again.
How do we get out of this circle of fear and doubt we are in? We have to let go of the past and trust in a future which is new and which is being controlled by God and not by us. God tells us to forget about the past because it is the memories of failure which hold us back. He tells us to look forward to what is ahead, not because we can make that big a difference but because He wants to be in control and show us the right way!
God is the one who begins by making a change in the future. He knows what we are capable of and how we can achieve that future – and it is not by us going forward alone! As mad and chaotic as the world is around us, God can bring on peace and control because nothing is impossible with Him!
Even though we cannot see a future which is bright and decent, God can and wants us to go forward into that future. The problem is we have to let go of our past errors and ways and allow God to work new ways into our lives. Only then can we move forward into the good future He has for us!
Points to Ponder:
How much do you worry about the past?
How much do you worry about the future?