Someplace New

You see, in the dark early hours, as I walked up to one of my favorite spots to get the fire started and enjoy the solitude of my morning reading and writing, something was very wrong. Somebody was already sitting in a rocking chair, reading in the spot I had mentally reserved as my own. This is not cool. He must not realize God created this specific time in the day just for me. And how dare he think that he could steal not just my time, but my favorite rocking chair as well? This is an outrage! ... And a great test for me to decide if I can eat my own cooking and truly be capable of doing the next right thing and leaving people better for the encounter.

We lit the fire, I grabbed a different chair, and had a nice conversation in the quiet of the morning. And I fought the addiction of my rigidity, discovering that I can actually find joy in being a little flexible on things not going exactly as I had pictured them in my mind.

"But forget all that-- it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18)

Forget all you thought you knew, Isaiah tells the Israelites, God is about to do something new.

I tend to miss the magic in so many moments because I get so focused on my thoughts on how things should be instead of God's vision of how things could be. I get so stuck in the comfort of my routine, not even realizing I'm wearing a path in dry wasteland where a river could be flowing.

A dear friend gave a talk recently about getting uncomfortable and trying something different. He talked about stepping out of the proverbial boat and trying to walk on water, even when we are frustrated, disappointed, or often terrified when He actually calls us to, following Him through the pathway in the wilderness that we don't even see.

What is something new you have been wanting to try but haven't had the courage to start? What is an uncomfortable opportunity you have been called into but haven't taken steps down the path? It may be big, like going on a mission trip or inviting someone to something, like adjusting your routine to make room for a new friend, or somewhere in the middle, like standing in front of a group to share your testimony or present to potential partners. Whatever it is, it is gonna be great!

What you know about the past is nothing compared to what God is doing in the future. 

Step out of the dry wasteland of the routine and let His mighty river flow over you and take you someplace new.