Isaiah 42:9 “See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”

This whole chapter is justly famous and dearly loved. However, this verse is important to remember in every age. History is indeed important, and those who don’t know history are indeed very likely to fall into the same mistakes as their ancestors did. However, the past is past, and God has things planned for the future. Constantly dwelling on the past and staying mired in it is no recipe for success. Right now a major problem in the US is that those who want to destroy the nation have wormed their way into the educational system and have largely stopped the teaching of history, or else twisted it to hide what really happened. That is truly dangerous, and needs to be corrected. At the same time, individuals, and the nation as a whole, need to be focused on the future, on what God has planned for us. These are perilous times, with technology advancing faster than we can keep up with it, and all sorts of bad actors loose around the world. However, none of that dethrones God, however much they try. Each of us individually is here for a brief time, so our focus needs to be on what God wants us doing with the time we have. We need to be listening to what He wants us to know about His plans, and commit ourselves to full obedience and participation even before we know what they are.

I don’t think I would have plotted my life out the way it has happened if you had asked me, at just about any time of my life. In some ways it’s not at all surprising, but in other ways it’s been quite unexpected. At 78, at least ¾ of my physical life is past, but dwelling on that fact will do me no good, and after all, I have eternity to look forward to! I have had clear signs of angina, and I have a major test of my heart coming up in a few days, and at the same time, the Lord has been indicating that I’m to have a wider ministry, not just staying in Omura. Those two things seem to be somewhat conflicting, but God knows what He’s doing. I need to be listening obediently, not projecting my expectations but following God, in small ways and big, so that His purposes may be accomplished in and through me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this Word. Thank You for prophesying publicly through me the other day, for the first time in many years. May I speak what You are saying, from the pulpit and otherwise, so that Your Word may go out from me to accomplish that for which You send it, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!