Be Present to the Moment

by Diana Kriesel

Monday, 7/25/11 – Isaiah 43-45; 1 Peter 4 – “Be Present to the Moment”

S= Scripture; O= Observation; A= Application; P= Prayer

S– Isaiah 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 desert and streams in the wasteland.”

O – The prophet had been talking about the deliverance from Egypt and passage through the Red Sea; and now promises something even greater. He calls them to forget the past and know that God will do a new work. He is saying that God’s intervention on their behalf will be so much greater than what they have known; and they shall know His provision and care like never before.

A – We look back to see the past faithfulness of God, but we must be present to the moment to see His guidance and provision. We can miss the hand of God when we are focused only on the past, even when it is good. The past should serve as a foundation for new expectation of God’s providence in our lives. Check out the Message version of these verses: Isaiah 43:18-19 - "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”

P – Lord, alert us to Your movement in our lives! Cause us to see all that You are doing so that we don’t miss a thing! Show us the roads You make through our deserts, and the rivers You forge through our dry places. We don’t want to miss any of Your works!