A Matter of Perception

Often the Summit experience is described as trying to drink from a fire hose, which actually sounds painful, frustrating, and ineffective. It’s a cruel thing to be so near water, but never able to drink.

But I don’t think the Summit experience is actually like that. One of the best ways to personalize your experience and effectively siphon off the water you most need is to prepare your heart in advance. To strengthen your ability to receive what God has individually prepared just for you.

I’d like to suggest that one of the best ways to prepare your heart is to embrace the message Isaiah conveyed to God’s people long ago— because it still holds true for us today. God said,

“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.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

At certain times in life, it is vitally important to look at former things and dwell on the past in order to gain insight, healing, etc. But not always.

Sometimes it is important to focus instead on the future. Why? Because God is doing a NEW thing, and the fact is I might not even notice.

I’m honestly haunted by the rhetorical question God poses through Isaiah “Do you not perceive it?” Could it be—right now—that God is doing this new thing that we don’t notice? Could it be we actually miss the activity of God? What if we don’t perceive it? And, ironically, I wonder if it isn’t those “former things”, the “past,” that block my ability to see the “new thing”.

In light of this possibility, I do hope you’ll take at least 10 or 15 minutes to reflect on a few questions: (You also might want to download a pdf of the below questions so you reflect through journaling.)

• What most stands to block your receptivity to God these next few days? List each one out and prayerfully ask God to hold them for these next few days while you listen for the “new thing.” (If you want to take them back after those days, that’s up to you)
  
  
• What, specifically, is your current wilderness or wasteland that needs a “new thing” from God?
  
  
• In what area(s) of your life and ministry do you most desire to hear from God about over the next few days?
  

Resolve not to dwell on the past but on this: Listen. Listen diligently for the new thing.

by: Mindy Caliguire (@MindyCaliguire)
Transformation Ministry Team, WCA