Off with the Old and on with the New

"I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling place among you.  . ." Leviticus 26:9-11a 

This season, begun in 2012, is strikingly different from what we have known prior. In so doing, we need to take inventory of our lives. We need to examine what is to be left behind and what is to carry on into this season. This pertains even to our belongings. What items are marking an old season that we have yet to dispense with? To give an example, I recently went through my collection of books and removed those books that marked an old way of thinking that no longer held relevance for me. I felt strongly compelled to do so. I have also been working to complete projects that were started long ago and need to find completion. I am still looking for those things that I need to not carry with me into the new season. I remove them from my life either by giving away stuff that I don’t need anymore, or by completing something left undone. We need to look at the paying off of bills and debts that have the feel of being something that ought to be repaid already. We need to make a space for the new. If we are living surrounded with a season that has gone by, we cannot fully embrace the season that is now. We need to truly take stock of what should carry over, as there are things that need to, and what needs to be expediently completed, given away, or thrown out. Some things that were begun in an old season will change over into the new season for they are things that have been and continue to be on time with God. We must not abandon the labor that He has called us into.

Then we also need to look at what is to be in this season. It is like we are starting fresh, only retaining the good things learned and acquired in the past in this new day. In what ways do we need to align our thinking to the new? What are the things we are to put our time and energy into? What are the signs of the new season for us? What is God highlighting? Follow the signs of life, the things that are flourishing and advancing. Make space in your life to move forward with God. Let go of the old, and embrace the new. Things that were impossible, and yet God, in 2011, will be possible with God in 2012. Do not let go of His promises, for 2010 and 2011 were preparation for their fruition in 2012. He is always faithful; we can take that to the bank.