NOTICE: The following
article is written by the author itself and not by me, I am not trying to
violate their copyright. I will give some information on them.
PAGE TITLE: CBN New Year
Devotion
ARTICLE TITLE: The Great Exchange
DATE: N.A
AUTHOR: Cathy Irvin
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Cathy Irvin authored
well over 50 Devotions for CBN over three decades where she served the Lord
Jesus Christ at the Christian Broadcasting Network. Cathy loved telling stories
and glorifying God in all that she did. On December 16, 2011, Cathy left this earthly
dwelling to take up residence in the dwelling prepared for her in Heaven. Her
Devotions minister with love and truth.
I
started cleaning out closets before the New Year, then again afterwards. I knew
it was time to tackle the chore. Sometimes it is hard to part with some of
those items, but I was determined to get rid of the old and make way for some
new clothing in my wardrobe.
I
also gave some older Christmas decorations to my daughter so she can enjoy them
for a while. They served their purpose but those days are gone. I displayed
some new arrangements. It was time for a change.
We
are told to look ahead to each new day with a fresh hope in what we can
accomplish. In God’s Word, we see God as a "Now God." He is always
doing a new thing. He says His mercies are new and fresh every morning. He says
His grace is sufficient for this day. We can see that nothing is stale and
nothing is stagnant in God’s Kingdom. He gave fresh manna daily for the people
on their journey in the wilderness.
We
can trust Him to give us what we need each day and look forward to living one
day at a time. Old things have passed away.
In
the New Year, I want to press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ
Jesus, not looking back to what I did not get done. I like to reflect on what I
did accomplish for God’s Kingdom and then move toward what I can do in this
year.
I
have seen people live with their pasts, and it places them in dark and lonely
arenas. There is no life in the sea of regrets and hurts. That is a place of
hopelessness and despair. Why stay there? We have the choice to live in the
grace of God while praying His word over our lives for blessings like success,
health, and prosperity. We need a new mindset: we are no longer victims of our
past circumstances. They will not rule our lives. We are more than survivors –
we are conquerors.
How
do we arrive at such a place to step into that new realm? It is a determination
not to be pulled back or pulled down and the realization that we can’t change
the past. We can and do have the opportunity to walk out today and our
tomorrows holding onto God's Word.
This
could be the dawning of grand and glorious days. Purpose in your heart to move
forward and leave last year behind you.
This
new year can and will be great. So prophesy good things over your own life.
Speak God’s Word says about today and the future. Put on the garment of praise
for a spirit of heaviness. Think about taking the old clothes out of the closet
and making room for the new ones. You will have to agree that a garment of
praise instead of a garment of heaviness is a great exchange.
"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." (Isaiah
43:18-19, NIV)
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of
it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead."
(Philippians
3:13, NIV)
Let
us proclaim the Good News of God’s Word over our lives and the lives of others
this New Year.
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has
anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the
poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to
proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of
the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, To proclaim the acceptable
year of the Lord [the year of His favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to
comfort all who mourn, To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in
Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of
ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise
instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks
of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for
uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord,
that He may be glorified." (Isaiah
61:1-3, Amplified Bible)
