NEW THING — BUT FORGET ALL THAT
Out with the Old… to Make Room for the New
How often do we pray for change, yet secretly wish things could go back to the way they were?
It sounds contradictory, but many of us do it. We want something new—yet we cling tightly to what’s familiar. We say we want transformation, but deep down, we’re afraid to release the past.
Whether it’s holding onto past blessings, old wounds, or outdated expectations, that grip keeps us from stepping into what God is trying to do next.
When God Says, “Forget All That…”
In Isaiah 43, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to the children of Israel about His mighty works in the past—the parting of the Red Sea, the defeat of Pharaoh’s army, and their miraculous deliverance from Egypt.
“This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
‘For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon…
I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters,
making a dry path through the sea.’”
— Isaiah 43:14–16 (NLT)
Then, right after recounting those incredible miracles, God says something unexpected:
“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.”
— Isaiah 43:18–19a (NLT)
Wait—forget all that?
God wasn’t telling them to erase His past goodness from memory. He was reminding them not to limit Him to what He’s already done. The Israelites were so focused on how God had moved before that they couldn’t imagine He could move differently—or greater—now.
When Remembering Becomes a Limitation
There’s a difference between remembering what God has done and relying on how He did it.
We’re called to remember His faithfulness as our testimony and source of hope—but not to box Him in.
“But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.”
— Psalm 77:11 (NLT)
We can remember and rejoice—but we must also release. God is creative and ever-moving. He doesn’t recycle miracles. He renews them.
“God doesn’t recycle miracles. He renews them.”
When we cling too tightly to past blessings or past hurts, we unknowingly restrict what God wants to do next.
He’s not finished with us—He’s simply ready to move differently.
Letting Go of What Holds You
God also calls us to release the pain, offense, and shame of the past.
Unforgiveness, regret, and self-condemnation act like chains—binding us to what was, instead of freeing us to walk in what is.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
— Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
I once thought I had fully let go of my past—until I noticed that certain memories still shaped my behavior and responses. I realized I hadn’t truly released them; I had only suppressed them.
It wasn’t until I invited the Holy Spirit into those spaces and surrendered them to God that I was able to forgive and forget—not in the sense of erasing them, but in the sense of removing their power over me.
“When we release it to God, our past loses its power over us.”
That’s when freedom came.
When God Wants to Do Something New
Even blessings can become barriers when we idolize the way God moved instead of trusting that He moves.
God began showing me this through my prayers for my husband’s spiritual walk. For years, I prayed with a very specific image in mind—us praying together, reading the Word together, serving together. While those are beautiful desires, God gently reminded me that I was still trying to script His work.
“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
— Isaiah 55:9 (NLT)
God doesn’t need my imagination—He needs my trust.
“God doesn’t need your imagination. He needs your trust.”
He’s saying, “Let Me out of the box. Let Me do it My way.”
Let God Be God
Our God is limitless. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—but He doesn’t always move the same way.
When we release the old—old patterns, old blessings, old offenses—we make space for the new thing He’s been waiting to do.
God wants to show you His faithfulness in new ways.
He wants to bless you in fresh ways.
He wants to take you beyond what you thought was possible.
So let go.
Forget all that.
And make room for the new.
“Let go of the old so you can make room for the new.”
A Closing Prayer
Lord, we thank You for every miracle, blessing, and way You’ve made.
May we never forget Your faithfulness or take Your goodness for granted.
But Lord, help us not to cling to the past in a way that limits You.
Teach us to remember with gratitude but move forward with expectation.
Help us to release every hurt, offense, and old pattern that keeps us bound.
We are open, surrendered, and ready for the new thing You want to do in and through us.
Have Your way, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
✨ Reflection Prompt
What’s one area of your life where you might be holding on to how God moved in the past?
Ask Him today: “Lord, what new thing do You want to do in me?”
📖 Key Verse
“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.”
— Isaiah 43:18–19a
💬 Join the Journey
If this message spoke to your heart, I invite you to walk this journey of renewal with me through Doing Life Anew.
Together, we’ll learn to release the old, embrace the process, and walk boldly into the new thing God has prepared.
👉 Explore more reflections, devotionals, and coaching experiences at DoingLifeAnew.com