RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP

I spoke to Jessie (not his real name) who has a difficulty forgiving someone from his past.  In fact, the guy’s been dead for years yet he still is upset with him.  Forgiveness is a necessity.  It’s really not for the offender than it is for the offended.  Unforgiveness is like drinking poison hoping that the other person dies.  Hard to do, but a necessity.

Then I had a meeting with Troy (also not his real name).  We’ve been meeting because he and his wife have been going through marriage problems.  He admitted that he lived a life of arrogance, hypocrisy and immorality. Right before New Year’s Eve, he sent me this text…

“Looking back at 2011, God exposing me for the fraud I was, was the best thing that ever happened in my life. I will honor God in all that I do in 2012, and the years to come. Thanks. Happy New Year.” 

After that, Paul texted me (yeah, his real name this time) and told me that God had healed him from cancer. Whoa! Amazing testimony!

Hearing these three stories, one passage of Scripture comes to mind.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up… (Isaiah 43:18)

1. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

Many are stuck in the past. It’s like driving your car and having your eyes fixed on the rear view mirror all the time. Unfortunately, you cannot and will not enjoy the view up ahead because what is behind always takes your perspective.

It’s hard to walk forward if you’re always looking backward.  Soon enough, you’ll bump your head.  Plus, you’ll miss the adventure of the future.

2. I am doing a new thing!

God is a God of new things!

Every morning, His mercies are new.
Every season, new flowers blossom.
Every year, new hope springs up.

If you keep dwelling on the past, you’ll miss all the new things God has for the future.

And it is in the routine, mundane and ordinary that we notice the little miracles God wants to recreate in and around us.

3. Now it springs up…

Now…! Did you hear it?

I’ll say it again, “NOW!”

Not next week. Not 2 months from now. Not next year. NOW!

God’s doing something new. He really is. Wait for it. Listen to Him. And praise Him in the process.

Our God is an awesome God!