First Forget

Isa.43:^18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (NIV, emphasis added)

Isaiah 43:^15-18 “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King. I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smouldering candlewick. “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.” We thank God for the testimonies and all the amazing things He has done in our lives and in our midst. But God is saying to you today, ‘Forget all that, it is nothing compared to what God is going to do – nothing compared!’ Say, Amen.

God knows how to drive home a point. God started by talking about what He has done, “…opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned…” And we are all wowed, right? Then God says, ‘Forget all that, it is nothing compared to what I am going to do!’ God wants us to thank Him for the testimonies. The Exodus from Egypt that God is talking about, He told the Israelites to institutionalize it, make transgenerational and teach it to their children and their children’s children. God wants us to testify, and God wants us to be grateful. But God is saying the things He is about to do will make those things seem like child’s play. And so shall it be in the Name of Jesus.

The New International Version of the Bible puts it this way, Isa.43:¹⁸ “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (NIV, emphasis added). The word forget from this scripture reference means do not dwell on the past. We thank God for the breakthroughs, but do not dwell on the past. It is gone. We thank God for the anointing of yesterday, but it is not sufficient for today. God says, Isa.43:¹⁹  “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (NIV, emphasis added).

From this scripture, we see three things and two outcomes. It is key that we understand this for the next chapter. The first thing is, Do Not Dwell On The Past – forget the former things. Someone hurt you, let it go – do not dwell on the past. Someone disappointed you, let it go and do not dwell on the past. Someone was mean to you, let it go – do not dwell on the past. You had expectations that were dashed – let it go and do not dwell on the past. You were promoted, praise God – do not dwell on the past. You have experienced breakthroughs, praise God but do not well on the past.  God is saying to us today, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for the miracles You have done. Today, I align with Your instruction to forget the former things no matter how great or how painful, in Jesus Name. Amen!