Renewal in a Dry Place!

“The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, The excellency of our God” (Isaiah 35:1-2 NLT).

Lush vegetation and radiant flowers are unexpected in a desert wasteland. Even their geographic monikers indicate the expectation of desolation: deserted comes from desert, and wasteland is considered just that … wasted land. No value is associated with the terrain. There is no agricultural value, no produce expected, and very little signs of life. It’s not much of a place for celebration. 

The prophet Isaiah was inspired by the wilderness to predict a miraculous future expectation. A change is coming. Something new is going to happen, and streams of water will course through the dry places causing an amazing renewal of life. Against the backdrop of fruitless desert sands comes the blessing of provision and the beauty of bountiful blooms. A land where others struggled to survive becomes a place for a party, rejoicing, singing, and joyful dancing. 

The barren brush blooms with new life, flowers sprout up unexpectedly, and new growth brings fresh vision and new color to the landscape. The difference is in the water. Springs bubbling up through the parched ground, streams flowing and coursing through dry washes produce the necessary hydration for germination. Buried seeds long dormant beneath the surface drink in the needed moisture to ignite growth and the impetus to bring forth new life. Where the river flows there is life. 

Whenever the Spirit moves into a dry place there is renewal. The stream of God’s presence provides the power for resurrection, transformation, and fruitfulness, from a life that once looked wasted and hopeless. Jesus proclaimed the promise, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38 NKJ). The Holy Spirit, which He promised is that well of living water, the river of His Spirit that brings hope, new life, and rejoicing in the desert!



Theme passage:
“… Gushing water will spring up in the wilderness and streams will flow through the desert. The burning sand will become a refreshing oasis, the parched ground bubbling springs …” (Isaiah 35:6-7 TPT).

accelerate… Something New is Coming!

“… For I supply streams of water in the desert and rivers in the wilderness to satisfy the thirst of my people, my chosen ones, so that you, whom I have shaped and formed for myself, will proclaim my praise” (Isaiah 43:20-21 TPT).

Who would expect to find a fresh flowing stream of water flowing out of a spring in the desert? All around is sand, scrub brush, a few cacti, and plenty of sun. Heat is expected. Coyotes, maybe. Roadrunners and rattlesnakes, definitely. But, streams of water? Never, would we expect a fresh supply of running water in such a typically dry place. 

God, who is the source of the miraculous, is the only one who delights in providing the unexpected. The dead do not live again … normally. Handicapped people: blind, lame, disfigured, debilitated … normally don’t recover with time, but typically grow worse. But, God is not typical, or predictable, or unable to do the most unexpected, life-transforming miracles. 

One thing we should come to expect … the unexpected! God is a specialist with difficult situations, overwhelming obstacles, and impossible outcomes. Nothing is too hard or impossible for Him. Actually, it is when everyone says, “there’s no hope,” “that’s it,” “too late,” is exactly when it is most likely that God steps in and does what is totally unexpected. 

Whatever the situation, however impossible, it becomes an opportunity for God to show His infinite care and creative purpose. Our trust in Him is not contingent on His performance of a miracle of our design, but rather a belief in His omnipotence and ability to do something beyond our ability to imagine. Paul said, He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).

​Let us begin to expect the unexpected. Look for flowing waters of miraculous provision in the desert places of impossible prediction. Nothing is impossible with God!


Theme passage:
"I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams  in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 TPT).

accelerate… Something New is Coming!

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).

The Prophet Isaiah promised a way in the wilderness, access through an uncharted trail, a pathway into His promise. This way would be the beginning of something greater than any could imagine. The reality is now beginning to be revealed. 

Early explorers and prospectors came West seeking a way through the wilderness landscape. They charted passages through virgin territory, following game trails and markers left behind by indigenous people. Eventually, those meandering paths became roads for covered wagons, horses, mules, and the stage coach. They made a way in the wilderness.

As we pursue God’s promise in the new year, and in this new season, be confident that He has already been down this path and He has prepared the way. He is the One who makes a way in the wilderness. Seek His way. Find His path. There we will find the flowing streams in the desert, life-giving spiritual awakening, that the prophet promised! Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37-38 NIV).

Jesus is still the way-maker, the one who provides access. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Seek His Way! Come to Him and live!


Theme passage:
"I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams  in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 TPT).

accelerate… Something New is Coming!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJ).

One thing you can be sure of, things are going to change. We are dynamic, ever-changing, and so is the world around us. We may cherish consistency, stability, and routine, but whatever our structure is around us, there is also an inevitability of change coming. With each day we age, muscles adjust to our level of activity, or inactivity. Time has a way of sapping our energy or testing our resolve. Everything will change in time. 

Our optimal choice is to recognize the challenges and changes around us, and adapt our outlook to seek the possibilities that come through these alterations. Those who embrace change find an opportunity to grow, to expand influence, and to move forward in faith. From our New Birth experience to now, we have undergone many changes. It is God’s purpose to transform us into His image, to become more like Christ with every change. (See Romans 12:2.)
​
John Maxwell said, “If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living.” In the new year and any time of the year, let us embrace change, and purpose to grow during this new season. The prophet’s prediction was God’s promise, “I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. … I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 TPT).

This can be our greatest hour as we respond to God’s initiative for the future. We can embrace change and be ready for the greatest harvest imaginable. God is about to do something we’ve never imagined! 



Theme passage:
"I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams  in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 TPT).

accelerate… Something New is Coming!

“I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his own. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead” (Philippians 3:12-13 TPT).

The end of the calendar year is often an opportunity for reflection on the past few months, both for achievements and failures. Some past reflection may be helpful as we set new goals and consider resolutions for the coming year. However, the past can be a detriment to our future progress. 

Past mistakes can be a hinderance to fresh attempts. We may have a negative mindset preventing us from trying something again after a previous failure. Even successes may provide a demotivation to attempt greater things, due to the fact we have already accomplished something similar. Paul’s recommendation was to forget all the past, which may imply failures and successes. He said, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13 NIV). Forget what is behind, Paul wrote, and strain toward the future. It’s goodbye yesterday, as we embrace the challenges of a new day and a new year! 

The prophet Isaiah voiced the same admonition, “Stop dwelling on the past. Don’t even remember these former things” (Isaiah 43:18 TPT). We can learn from the past, even be encouraged by former successes, but we must move on to the future. Gain wisdom from yesterday, but refuse to dwell there. Leave the past in the past and reach for a new goal, a greater opportunity, and the promises God has given. 


Theme passage:
"I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams  in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 TPT).