Devotional: Don’t Live in the Glories of the Past

“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” —Isaiah 43:18–19 (NLT)

 

There is always a tendency to limit God by what He has done in the past. We remember His miracles, His provision, His protection, and the blessings of former seasons—and we begin to measure Him by yesterday’s works. The Red Sea, the manna, the walls of Jericho—these were mighty demonstrations of His power. Yet if we focus only on what God has done, we risk missing what He is doing now.

 

For some, there is comfort in living in the past. We replay old victories and fond memories as if they were enough to sustain us forever. But God’s plans are never stuck in history. He is always moving forward, working in ways beyond our imagination. Nostalgia can become a spiritual cage, keeping us from stepping into new seasons of blessing, growth, and divine breakthroughs.

 

As we move forward with TEAM 2819 into this new year, many questions may arise: Where do we go from here? What does the future hold? In past years, we had resources, experience, and connections that made our path smoother. Now, God is calling us into a new season—a shift that requires faith, courage, and surrender.

 

Part of this season is passing the baton to the next generation. They may not have the experience we do, and it can be tempting to doubt what they can achieve. But God often works through new hands and fresh perspectives. We must listen to them, guide them, and trust God to lead them, even as we step back. This is not a loss—it is an opportunity for legacy, multiplication, and seeing God do things in ways we may never have imagined.

 

God speaks to us just as He spoke to Israel: “Forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do” (Isaiah 43:18). The past is a testimony of His faithfulness, but it does not limit His future. He is ready to do something new, to create rivers in our deserts, and to make a way where there seems to be no way.


Reflection:


God is inviting us to move forward with Him, beyond what we know and beyond what we have seen. The past shows His faithfulness, but the future requires our faith. 


  • Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones, let go of yesterday’s victories, and trust Him for the new things He is already doing? 
  • Can we embrace the next generation and allow God to work through them, even if their ways are different from ours?


Prayer:


Lord, help me not to live in the glories of the past. Open my eyes to see the new things You are doing. Give me faith to step into the unknown, courage to follow Your lead, and a heart ready to honor You in this new season. Help me guide, listen to, and trust the next generation as You raise them up. Make a way in our wilderness, and let Your rivers flow in our dry places. Amen.

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