Remember Not the Former Things - Isaiah 43:18 (AMP)

Recently I came across an interview with a very popular and renowned musician who was asked about whether he cared about what people said about him or thought about him and whether that determined how he bothered about how to phrase his statements or views. He said and I quote “ We have been taught to look back to our human history, learn from it, 

Understand it and form our views and opinions based on it and being afraid that history could repeat itself if not careful. Not necessarily being taught about the future, how to be bold to be the first pioneers to break through the barrier of the past and look to the future and what it has to bring (paraphrased)”. 

The Power of Reality

Now I thought nothing about it until today when the Holy Spirit dropped a verse of scripture in my spirit while I was praying. From Isaiah 43:18. “ Remember not the former things…” He was telling me that I had spent so much time and effort on what has happened in the past, my ancestry, my fathers, what they did, how it affects me today, and how I was forming my opinions, perspectives, and decisions based on what had happened in the past. Worrying that history would repeat itself and then letting fear come in to guide that feeling into reality. 

The Holy Spirit reminded me to read Isaiah 43:18 and 19 from the Amplified. Now this is what it says verbatim, “

Isaiah 43:18 (AMP) “Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. Do not form your opinion of yourself based on what has happened to you in the past or what happened to your fathers. Behold I do a new thing in your life (Isaiah 43:19 (AMP))

Remember not the former things; He said behold I do a new thing. It hit me like a ball of lightning. I have spent years thinking I was my father’s son and if I do not order my life in a certain way by pondering on what happened to my fathers, my life would go the same way it went for my fathers. History repeating itself. Remember not the former things. 

Look to the future

He told me to “Look to the future of what I create”,  in Isaiah 65:17 AMP 17 - “Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things [of life] will not be remembered or come to mind. What is this new thing he talked about? Behold I do a new thing? Let's look closely at Isaiah 46:9 (AMP) Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past; For I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like Me.

God instructs us to remember only one thing about the former things- he said we should always remember that which he did in the past from ages past for he is God and there is no one else. Hallelujah. We must always look into the rearview of our lives and remember that which God has done for us in the past. That is the only way we can stay thankful no matter what is happening to us NOW, we must remember, that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. He is the father of light, in whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning. That is what James 1:17 (AMP) says about Him. It says every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].

Breaking Barriers

Behold I do a new thing? In Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Wow, do you understand the depth of that statement? He will do a new thing, it will spring forth and you will not be aware of it? He said he would even put a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Praise God. 

Remember not the former things. When we look to Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith, we begin to see his marvelous work in our lives, and our viewpoint, and mindset about who we are in Christ Jesus will change. I can assure you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP) clearly defines this for us. It says “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”

Spiritual Awakening

Spiritual awakening truly brings a new life. Our mindset must change. Our viewpoints and our thoughts must change. It is only then, that what we say from our mouths would align with these changed mindsets and only then transformation can take place. Read my article, “The Life Producing Spoken Word of God”. Our thoughts truly define who we are. Do you remember the popular scripture in Proverbs 23:7 (AMP) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates]? Our thoughts produce our words which in turn influence our actions and if not curbed become a habit that we cannot control until our character determines our final destiny.

We must think spiritual thoughts about ourselves through the word of God. We must always confess what God says about us. Isaiah 40:31 (AMP) clearly explains how to change our mindset and thought realm. “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.

Think Right

We must allow God’s strength to help us think right while we wait for him. It changes our perception and how we see ourselves. Psalms 139:14 (AMP) says, I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Remember not the former things. Remember that you are a new creature. See 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP) clearly defines this for us. It says “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”

Pursue Righteousness

We must not remember the former things, our polluted lineages, corrupted bloodlines, and the things our fathers did. Let us take them, wrap them up in a bundle, all our fears and failures and wrong expectations, let us bring them as weights and burdens and put them at the feet of the Master. Let us then take his burden for he says his weight is easy and his burden is light. It is true. Mark 11:20 (AMP) In the morning, as they were passing by, the disciples saw that the fig tree had withered away from the roots. Always remember that you are a branch plucked out of fire. He that cursed the fig tree and it withered from its very root has cursed any evil root in your life.

Isaiah 11:1 (AMP) Then a Shoot (the Messiah) will spring from the stock of Jesse [David’s father], And a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. By his coming, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ has engrafted you into his own root Hallelujah. Amen. Let's be encouraged, brethren. Remember not the former things for behold he is doing a new thing in your life and mine.

Conclusion

In closing, Isaiah 51:1-3 9AMP) says “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness (right standing with God), Who seek and inquire of the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut And to the excavation of the quarry from which you were dug. 2Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; For I called him when he was but one, Then I blessed him and made him many.” 3 For the Lord will comfort Zion [in her captivity]; He will comfort all her ruins. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and the voice of a melody