We are going to look at the book of Isaiah and discover what we can glean from the prophet as he urges the children of Israel to forget the past. Moms, let go of the past because God is doing something new!
Have you heard the word “behold” used lately? Do you find yourself telling your children, “Behold the dinner I have set before you!”
Probably, not.
The word “behold” means to “see, pay attention or notice”. It’s emphatic in nature– Look! Listen! This is very important!
It’s a word that causes you to sit up and lean in because something important is about to happen. See for yourself in Isaiah.
Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 NASB
What is God asking us to “behold” pay attention to or lean into in this passage?
Moms, Let Go of the Past Because God Is Doing Something New
Sweet moms, God is trying to get our attention here!
Stop wasting your time thinking about what was and stop dwelling in the past mistakes or triumphs! LISTEN up, keep your eyes open to what He is doing now in you and through your children. Our mighty God is at work in ways you can’t even imagine but you’re stuck reliving the pain from your past that you can’t see Him.
You may be asking, “What past?” I know, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You know that thing your spouse did to you 8 years ago. That time your daughter yelled, “I hate you!” When you yelled at your child over spilled milk. Or the constant criticism you replay over and over again in your head.
Stop recalling those things so you can see He is doing a new thing!
Your Heavenly Father is doing something right now, right before your eyes but you can’t even see it. So stop that! Start fixing your eyes on Jesus so you can see His wondrous work, His forgiveness and His redeeming power.
We Can’t Even Go There
My world is constantly forever moving from one thing to the next, full to the brim, noise-filled, and cluttered. If I could take a picture of my computer I am currently typing on you would see that I have 10 tabs opened. We are so programmed to look everywhere and to listen to everything fast and efficiently. The results leaving us not more knowledgeable or more powerful but exhausted and distracted. We can’t even comprehend what it means to gaze on something for more than 10 minutes. “Behold” is too foreign of a concept.
Nothing and no one truly has our deep and undivided attention. Not our children. Not God. Not our spouse. Not our work…
In this passage he is beckoning the children of Israel to gaze with eyes of wonder at His mighty Hand, His compassionate love and His redeeming grace.
Let’s go through Isaiah 43: 18-19 using the R.A.A.P. study method.
- Read. Spend time reading the passage once. Read all of chapter 43 to get a feel for it in it’s context. You may even want to read it in another version.
- Ask. What does it mean? Who? What? When? Where? How? Why? What can we learn about God character, actions or attributes?
Isaiah the prophet shares a message from God to the children of Israel who are in captivity. They’ve been taken captive by the Babylonians and are experiencing a hard time. They do not deserve to receive anything from God. God’s message is of hope, reminding them His redeeming love and His compassionate mercy for His people. He reminds us throughout this passage that He is our creator, redeemer, rescuer, our God, Holy, Savior, Comforter, Almighty and our father. He can do the impossible and He works in various ways to fulfill His purpose.
- Apply. What is He inviting you to through these verses? What things do you need to leave in the past? How does this passage encourage or challenge you to “BEHOLD”what God is doing in your motherhood or life? What hope can you draw from this passage?
- Pray. Pray what you’ve learned and pray scripture back to Him as you intercede for your children, yourself and your family.
Ask the Lord to help you see if you’re holding on to something in the past that’s a hindrance or an obstacle in you seeing Him more clearly. Is there something your spouse or children have done that is getting in the way of you seeing God at work? If so, ask God to forgive you and to empower you so you can let go of the sin that so easily entangles us. Ask God to give you the courage to forgive your child or spouse if you are holding on to something they did. Ask God to help your children not let their mistakes define or lead them may they focus and give their attention to what God is in them and all around them.
We are constantly bombarded with new ideas, beautiful images, never ending tweets, social media status updates that our brains are constantly “going” and the concept of stopping, sitting still, ceasing and giving our attention or gaze to what is before us is impossible.
Let’s stop and pause for just a moment to “behold” His never-ending compassionate and merciful love. Lean into what He is doing in you, through your children and all around you.
Will you extend this same message of grace He is offering the children of Israel to yourself, your children and your spouse? The message that says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
Next Few Weeks!
Here’s a peek into the next few weeks of 31 Days of Leaning into God in Our Motherhood
- Behold the King.
- Behold the Truth.
- Behold your Heavenly Father.
- Behold your Savior.
- Behold our Almighty God.
- Behold our Healer.
- Behold the I AM.
- Behold His Holiness.
- Behold His Sovereignty.
- Behold His Love.