Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to this sanctuary of solace, this haven of hope, this dwelling of divine love. We gather here not as strangers, but as a family knit together by the thread of faith, stitched by the hands of our Heavenly Father. We are not here by accident, but by divine appointment. Each of us is called, chosen, and cherished by our Creator.

Today, we stand on the precipice of a profound truth, a truth that can transform our lives, if we let it. It's a truth beautifully encapsulated by the esteemed Charles Spurgeon when he said, "By perseverance, the snail reached the ark." We may not all be swift, we may not all be strong, but by God's grace, we can all persevere. We can all reach the ark of God's promises.

Let us turn our hearts and minds to the Word of God, as found in the book of Isaiah, chapter 43, verses 18 and 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."

These verses, dear friends, are a clarion call from our Creator. A call to focus on the future, to forge forward with faith, and to fulfill the fresh opportunities He places in our path. They are a divine decree, a heavenly herald, that God is not done with us yet. He is doing a new thing, a fresh thing, a thing of beauty and blessing.

Focusing on the Future

The future, dear friends, is a vast expanse of uncharted territory. It's a blank canvas, waiting to be painted with the colors of our choices and the brushstrokes of our actions. It's a book yet to be written, a story yet to be told. And the beautiful thing about the future is that it's not set in stone. It's not a fixed, unchangeable entity, but a fluid, flexible one.

We have a divine directive to forget the former things, to not dwell on the past. It's a heavenly invitation to focus on the future, to perceive the new thing God is doing in our lives. It's a call to courage, a summons to strength, and a mandate for movement.

But what does it mean to focus on the future? How do we shift our gaze from the rearview mirror of the past to the windshield of the future? How do we transition from a backward-looking perspective to a forward-facing one? These are questions that demand our attention, questions that deserve our consideration.

Firstly, focusing on the future means letting go of the past. It means releasing the regrets, the resentments, and the recollections that keep us stuck in a time that no longer exists. We are forgiving ourselves and others for the mistakes made, the opportunities missed, and the wrongs done.

Secondly, focusing on the future means embracing change. We should be welcoming the new, the novel, and the not-yet-known with open arms and open hearts. It means recognizing that change is not a threat, but a tool, a tool that God uses to shape us, to mold us, and to make us into the people He wants us to be.

Thirdly, focusing on the future means trusting God. He has a plan for our lives, a plan to prosper us and not to harm us, a plan to give us hope and a future. It means relying on His promises, resting in His provision, and rejoicing in His presence.

Lastly, focusing on the future means living in the present. It means making the most of the moments we have, the opportunities we're given, and the people we're with. It means not wasting our time worrying about what might happen, but investing our time in what can happen.

Forging Forward with Faith

As we embrace the truth of Isaiah 43:18-19, we are drawn to the divine declaration, "See, I am doing a new thing!" This is not a mere statement, but a divine directive, a heavenly herald, calling us to forge forward with faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO