"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 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 43:19-20)

Here we are at the beginning of another New Year. It's funny how we tend to think about what the future might bring this time of the year. Perhaps it's because we carry regret from the year just passed. Or maybe it's because we hope for something more - something better - than what we have now. We're possibly dissatisfied with ourselves, with our accomplishments, or with our lives in general. In many ways, our looking for a new start reveals our sense of disappointment and regret of the past.

I am often impressed by God's urging in Scripture to put the past behind and to press forward toward what He has for us now and in the future. The verses in Isaiah telling us to "forget the former things" because He "will do a new thing" are encouraging and hopeful. I'm one that tends to analyze and pick apart those things which have already happened in hopes of understanding all the "whys" and "wherefores." But by God's grace I have learned - and am still learning - to lay those things at His feet, and to then put my hand in His to lead me forward, unencumbered by the past.

More Scriptures encourage us to lay aside the negativities of the past, and to look ahead. Here's a sampling:

"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)

But are we to forget the past altogether? The Bible also tells us to remember - not our failings nor the difficulties we encountered - but rather how God brought us through them and His faithfulness to us:

"And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee." (Deuteronomy 8:2)

"Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth." (Psalm 105:5)

"I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old." (Psalm 77:11)

"When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." (Psalm 63:6)

So as we walk into another new year, let's leave our failings at Jesus' feet where He forgives us. Let's leave our hurts there as well, because that's where He heals us. And let's abandon our disappointments at the same spot, because when we do, He can replace them with hope and joy for the future as we walk into it with Him.

© 2009 Fern Horst

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