It's Spring!

My husband and I just traveled from south central Texas to north central Texas and then back again so we could visit family and celebrate a grandson's 2nd birthday. This journey of 800 miles was made easier by the beauty of the countryside as it yielded to a new season. The budding out of trees and the greening of the fields seemed to shout: "It's Spring!" Everything along the way was bursting with new life. Lovely as it was, to a Texan, nothing says Spring like the appearance of the state flower. We love our bluebonnets! This photo demonstrates why.

A New Season is Springing Forth

Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? Is 43:18, 19

My understanding of this verse in light of other scriptures in the Bible is not that we literally forget the past. It is biblical to think on happy events of the past to remind us of the goodness of God. In that way we encourage ourselves and build up our faith. It is also appropriate to bring bad memories or traumas to our Heavenly Father for them to be healed. And, of course, as the Holy Spirit brings conviction, we remember things for which we need to repent and be cleansed. But we are not to continue in old fruitless ways and thoughts.

God is Doing New Things

I believe this verse is pointing us to the fact that our God is always doing new things and He wants us to follow after Him. Look at the last phrase of verse 19 ("Shall you not know it?"). This comment implies that we are walking close enough to Him to sense when He is starting a new season in our lives. Then we can cooperate with Him in letting go of the old and embracing the new, much as we do Spring after a long winter. Sometimes our reality will change gradually. And sometimes we will "Spring Forth" suddenly.

God loves suddenlies. I just received one. It was a long time coming and then POW!-- there it was and now I am on the other side, walking in newness. If you need a suddenly, I pray you receive it and enter into a new season, too.