2020 – YEAR OF NEW CHAPTERS

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

In a vision, I saw a big book and its pages suddenly flipped once.  I wondered what it was, but after a while, a scripture came to my spirit at once and it was Isaiah 43:18-19. The scripture gave me a revelation of what I had seen in the vision - the opening of the book meant; the beginning of a new chapter.

God was telling me that He is opening new chapters in our lives – for He is doing a brand new thing. And for this reason, have faith in God, be hopeful in His word and seek Him diligently because when you draw close to God, He draws close to you. Don’t look at the facts of life, don’t look at the surrounding situation, do not consider the contradictory and negative circumstances (debts, unemployment, lack etc.), but have faith in the truth – word of God and be like Abraham who had faith and hope amidst a hopeless situation. Romans 4:19-20 (GNT) says;

"He was then almost one hundred years old; but his faith did not weaken when he thought of his body, which was already practically dead, or of the fact that Sarah could not have children. 20 His faith did not leave him, and he did not doubt God's promise; his faith filled him with power, and he gave praise to God." 

Road in the Wilderness

Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV)

“I will even make a road in the wilderness"

Wilderness means a wild and uncultivated region, as of desert, uninhabited, or inhabited only by wild animals; an empty or pathless area.  Precisely a wilderness is an expansive desert with no water, flora and roads.

If you were thrown in the wilderness you will be puzzled and get lost because the entire place is an empty pathless ground. But God told Isaiah that He was going to make a road in the wilderness. A road provides direction and leads one to the purposed destination; without roads people would get lost and never reach where they ought to go. If you have been in the desert stranded, confused and not knowing how to reach your destination or desired goals, God is going to lead you and direct you to your purposed destination – He is going to make a road in the wilderness. But the road is for the wise and obedient who understand that life has a purpose that unfolds if you believe in Jesus who is the way, truth and life (John 14:6)

Some believers have been and some are in the desert. God always takes us through the desert before we reach Canaan – our promises. The desert is training ground where we are humbled, our faith is stretched and character tested (Deuteronomy 8:1-5). Desert life is a life of faith – you live one day at a time. But God is going to make a road so that you move from the desert to Canaan - fullness of his promises.

The road can be a person or a situation. God uses people (Ezekiel 22:30); He can bring one person in your life to fulfill his purpose and your life changes forever. Isaiah 46:11 (NIV) says,

From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned, that I will do.

Value the people that come into your life; someone could be a road now or in the future – some people are roads that connect or lead you to God's desired purpose for your life. People come into our lives for a reason and season, so never take them for granted. The road could be a new job that pays better and enables you to achieve all your goals.

When in the desert you eat by faith – one day at a time. God made manna in such a way that it went bad by evening. It came each morning, except on the Sabbath day. It could be collected each day for that day alone and only as much as could be eaten in one day. If a person tried to collect more than needed or store it for the next day, it would grow wormy and stink (Exodus 16:14-21). 
A time comes and you exit the desert, and when you reach Canaan - into your promises, manna ceases, and then you live a purposeful and productive life. God is going to make a way in the wilderness and the more you travel, the  better your perspective of His purpose for your life. 

Rivers in the Desert

We all know that water is life. In the desert there are no streams or rivers and water is gotten from oasis and deep wells which are found in very few places. Getting water in the desert is a real struggle because it’s very scarce in such a dry environment. God is telling us that struggling is going to be no more. It’s very easy to draw water from a river than from a deep well. Struggling is not our portion. People have been struggling to make ends meet, and God has seen the struggling and He is going to change it – He is going to do a new thing. God is going to change your life. We have seen him changing seasons. God is declaring what is going to happen before we even see it or feel it, so anchor your faith. Isaiah 46:9-10 (NIV) says;

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Before God does anything, He reveals it to His servants (Amos 3:7). God declares through His servants the end before the beginning. For God’s promises never fail and his counsel always stands, so believe God and have faith in His word that He is going to open a new chapter and transform your life. No one can hinder what God promised or purposed (Isaiah 14:27).

If you have promises or prophesies upon your life but confused about how they will come to pass given the current circumstances, status and background, take heart  and only believe God and have faith in His word. God is going to make a way in the wilderness that will lead you into His purpose for your life, and as He directs you, He will also make rivers of provision and remove all staggering and struggling

A life in Christ has new roads of purpose and new rivers of provision and along the way roads of purpose always lead to rivers of blessings. God is closing the old chapters and opening new chapters in our lives, so believe God and have faith in His word because He is going to do in your life in this year.

Happy New Year!