Too often, we Christians remain anchored to the things of the past, stagnating for a long time, even trying to revive these old works to which we have become accustomed, while God wants to make us completely new.

In this process, our stubbornness only postpones everything.

In the Word, there are several references to moving forward, to projecting ourselves toward the future while forgetting the past.

A phrase from Jesus himself fully encapsulates the process of change that God wants to bring about in our lives: “Let us cross over to the other shore.” (Mark 4:35)

There are times when we remain stuck between past and present, clinging to our comfort zone, and then comes the decisive command that we must regard without hesitation:

“Let us cross over to the other shore” — because it is here that God has new things in store for us!

The greatest danger at this stage is that of ending up like Lot’s wife: calcified and stuck. (Genesis 19:26)

Too often, we Christians remain anchored to the things of the past for a rather long period of stagnation, even trying to resurrect these old works to which we have become accustomed, while God wants to make us completely new.

In this process, our stubborn resistance to change only postpones what God desires for us.

While God invites us to :

“Behold, I AM doing a new thing, even now. It sprouts, don’t you notice it?” Isaiah 43:19.

This is an invitation to recognize God’s continuous action that brings us newness and hope in our journey, even in the desert of life.

This requires us to open ourselves to the future and to the works that God has prepared for us in our future, and not stay fixated and frozen in the past.

With God there is always forward, life-giving momentum.

It is written that “His mercies are renewed every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23) indicating God’s constant work of transformation in us and in the world around us.

I remember a philosophical expression that has stuck with me: “Panta rei,” “Everything flows,” which encapsulates Heraclitus’s thought on “continuous becoming, constant change, and transformation.”

The classic example is the river, in which one cannot step into the same water twice, underscoring that everything is in perpetual transformation.

It is important not to only rely on the blessings of the past because every day opens up before us with new mercies through the Grace of God The Father.

It is important not to solely rely on the blessings of the past because every day opens up before us through the Grace of God The Father and we need this present Grace to fight the whiles of an enemy who constantly updates his tactics and wants us to remain as we are and where we are — destabilized and confined to his influences.

However, God has the final Word if we will heed His call and follow Him!

He elevates us, lifts us up, and makes us into triumphant warriors in His Kingdom!

So dear saints, let us cross to the other shore, with Christ at our head where God himself teaches, trains and equips us with the daily fresh Grace of His Presence.

Prayer

Father, we desire that You take dominion and presidency over our lives.

Over the years, we have only experienced disappointment when we tried to patch up where total change was needed.

Today, LORD, we give You access to our hearts and minds so that You may fulfill in each of us the purpose for which You have called us.

Father, the more we resist, the more the enemy rejoices because he knows that by doing so, we are stopping the work You have prepared for us.

Today, we completely immobilize him because we lay down our lives as a living sacrifice to the throne of Your Grace and we cry out to You,

“Do with as You please, wonderful Father — our lives are Yours!”

In the mighty Name of Jesus we pray,

Amen, and Amen

 

~ Tecla Grazia, Italy.

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Tecla Grazia, Italy.

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