Could God to Give You Something New this Year?

I tried to look like I wasn’t listening, but truthfully I wanted to hear their conversation.

“I don’t get it. How do you always look so good? What do you do that I don’t?”

I stole an inconspicuous peek at the woman who was about to reveal her secret. Yep. She looked good, even in jeans and a t-shirt. It wasn’t that she was stunningly beautiful, so what was it? I strained to hear what she’d say next.

“I live by two simple rules: First, when I want something new, I get rid of something old. Second, when something gets damaged I immediately fix it, or toss it. I never keep anything that’s dated, damaged, or doesn’t flatter me.”

She sounded so wise. So organized. I made a mental note to be more like her.

Two days later I opened our guest room closet–the one where we keep things we don’t use, but aren’t sure we want to get rid of. Suddenly, the well-dressed stranger’s words replayed in my head. I couldn’t deny it; instead of getting rid of my dated and damaged stuff, I simply rearranged them. The space was so jammed there was no room for more.

And then it hit me. My closet was a picture of my life.

I’d allotted God very little space to give me something new. And I never quite got around to fixing things that needed repaired. Like my schedule. Or stress level. Or habits.

And here’s the thing: the stuff that filled my life wasn’t bad; it just hadn’t been updated in quite some time.

Could it be that I needed to give God room to do a new thing in me? Or for me?

I decided it was.

On January 2nd I opened my Bible to Genesis 1, “In the beginning God created…” I’d  read it a thousand times. But then it dawned on me: I’m face to face with the account of how God creates something new! Could it be the way God created the heavens and earth is the same way He creates something new in a human heart like mine? Or yours?

Turns out it is!

Here are 3 ways to be ready for God to create something new in your life:

1. Acknowledge Your Empty Spaces as God’s Creative Places

Before God created, the earth was formless. Empty. Dark. And the Spirit of God hovered over the surface.

When our hearts feel empty, when our future looks formless, when our outlook seems dark, it’s easy to assume God isn’t near. But He is.

Do you have an empty place in your heart? A space you sense void? A future that feels formless? Are you in a season of darkness? Oh sweet friend, this is just the kind of circumstances where God does His best work! This sets the stage for a new thing God can create.

The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. (Genesis  1:2 NLT)

2.  Allow God to Light Your Way

Where do you need transformation in your life? Got it? Good.

When God formed the earth, He first lit the way, then He separated light from darkness. His pattern of creation still stands.

• God lights our way through His Word (“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105) .

• He shows us He is the way (“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6) 

• He asks us to step into the light, and away from the darkness.

Illumination precedes formation. You can’t create something new in the dark.

[bctt tweet=”My transformation starts with God’s illumination.” username=””]

We find illumination through the inspiration of God’s Word.

Formation begins with illumination; but illumination must be followed by separation.

If we want God to create something new in us, or our family, or our community, or our world, we can’t stay in darkness. 

Where has God illuminated your path? Even just a little? Is there any area of darkness you need to separate from so you can step into His light?

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.

(Genesis 1:3-4)

3. Create Space for God to Fill You with Something New

After God created light, and separated light from dark, He created space. And you know what God did with space? He filled it good things. New things.

God still creates like this. If we want something new from God, we must make space for Him to create it.

• If we pray for God to create love in our family, we have to make space for God to create love in our family.

• If we long for God to create closeness with our friends, we have to make space for God to create closeness with our friends.

• If we want God to give us a new experience with Him, we have to make space for God to give us a new experience with Him.

When our lives look like my closet–overloaded with old stuff–there’s no room for new stuff.

So we must answer honestly, If God wanted to create something new in my life, would there be space for Him to create it? 

We can’t expect God to create something new if we refuse to give Him space to do it.

Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” 7 And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.

(Genesis 1:6-7)

2019 is here. And with it, new opportunities for God to create something beautiful with our lives.

What might God create in you, and for you, if you separate from darkness, live in His light, and make space for Him to give you something brand new?

The gal in the coffee line said it best; “When I want something new, I get rid of something old”. Is there an old habit, old way of relating, old thought pattern, or old sin, you need to toss to make room for the new thing God wants to give you in 2019?