Jan. 16, 2022

The Awesome Power of Vision

God: “...I'll save the people of Joseph. I know their pain and I’ll make them as good as new. They'll get a FRESH START as if nothing had ever happened! Why? Because I am their God and I'll do what needs to be done for them.”   Zechariah 10:6 (MSG)

God: “I will make a FRESH START with Israel. They will burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring.”      Hosea 14:5b (MSG)

“God gives a hand to those down on their luck, and he gives a FRESH START to those who are ready to quit.”          Psalm 145:14 (MSG)

SIMPLE STEPS TO A FRESH S.T.A.R.T.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR NOT STARTING

EXCUSE 1: I DON’T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES

“Then Gideon started making excuses: He said, ‘But Lord, how can I save the nation of Israel? I belong to Manasseh, the smallest tribe, and my family is the weakest and poorest family in the tribe. And I am the youngest and least important person in my family!’ Then the Lord replied, ‘But I will be with you.’”                    Judges 6:15-16a

EXCUSE 2: I’VE FAILED IN THE PAST

“The Lord says this: ‘Do not cling to events of the past and do not dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do! It is happening already. Just look and you can see it starting now!’”        Isaiah 43:18-19a (TEV) 

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.”   Proverbs 28:13 (LB)

EXCUSE 3: I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”  Ecclesiastes 11:4 (LB)

EXCUSE 4: THERE ARE THINGS I CAN’T CONTROL

“Don't give up and act helpless in times of trouble.”      Proverbs 24:10 (CEV) 

TAKE STOCK OF WHAT I HAVE

ASK: WHAT ARE MY ASSETS?

“You have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He’s the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power.”     Colossians 2:10 (LB) 

ASK: WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?

“You have experienced many things. Were all those experiences wasted? I hope not!”   Galatians 3:4 (ICB)

“You should continue following the teachings you learned. You know they are true, because you trust those who taught you.”  2 Timothy 3:14 (NCV) 

ASK: WHO COULD HELP ME?

“Get all the advice you can and you’ll succeed; without it you’ll fail.”   Proverbs 15:22 (TEV) 

ACT IN FAITH

“According to your faith will it be done to you.”  Matthew 9:29b (NIV)

“We should make plans – counting on God to direct us.”  Proverbs 16:9 (LB)

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”              Hebrews 11:6a (NIV)

REFOCUS MY MIND

“Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.”    Ephesians 4:23 (Amp)

• LISTEN MORE TO GOD’S WORD THAN THE WORLD

“Happy are those who...are always meditating on God's Word... They are like trees along a river...that do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.”   Psalm 1:1-3 (TEV)

• THINK ABOUT WHAT I THINK ABOUT

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”     Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)

TRUST THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING

“When the clay pot that the potter was forming on the wheel didn’t turn out the way he intended, he simply started over, using the same clay to make a new pot.”      Jeremiah 18:4 

“Then God said to Jeremiah, ‘Can I not do with you as the potter does? Just as the potter works the clay in his hand, so are you in my hand and I am working on you.’”   Jeremiah 18:5-6 

“When anyone becomes united with Christ, he becomes a new person inside. He is not the same anymore. The old life is gone and a fresh new life has begun!”         2 Corinthians 5:17