What needs to change?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “A fresh start in a new year”

Our Bible verse for today: “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

Our thought for today: “What needs to change?”

Are you familiar with the music of Zach Williams? He is a contemporary Christian musician whose music is very popular, and for good reason. His lyrics are deep and profound, grounded in important Biblical truth. They also speak directly to some of the most painful and difficult circumstances God’s people sometimes face in life.

Recently I read Zach’s autobiography “Rescue Story.” It was eye-opening. I had no idea what a deep, self-created pit of despair Zach lived in for decades before he became a successful Christian musician. He was deep into drug and alcohol abuse for many years and not only did he cause great harm to himself, but his wife, children, and parents also suffered because of his addictions and his wild lifestyle.

God had a great plan for Zach’s life – He was eventually going to use him to touch millions of people through his music. But before that could happen, things needed to change in Zach’s heart and in his life. God was in the process of delivering Zach from his addictions and bringing him into a new and much better season of life, but there were some other things that needed to happen first. On His part, God was busy orchestrating events in and around Zach, but there were things Zach needed to be doing too before he was going to be ready for what God had planned.

You may not be living in a deep pit of addiction like Zach was, and God may not be leading you into the ministry of a Christian music star, but God is at work in each of our lives delivering us from something, and leading us to something new and better. But for that to happen, there are other things that must happen first. Some of those are God-things and some of them are you-things.

There are events and outcomes that God is orchestrating to prepare the way forward for you, but there are also things that you need to be working on too so that you are ready to move forward with God. That was true in the life of Zach Williams, and it was the case with the Israelites at the time God spoke in Isaiah 43:19. He was leading them to something new and better. But there was a lot happening behind the scenes that needed to be accomplished first, by God and by them.

What needs to happen in your life before God’s plan for you can unfold? You can be sure that God will do His part, but are you doing yours? Your future can be bright, and God wants it to be, but are there some changes you need to make first?

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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