The Gratitude Shift - Embracing Six Gifts You Already HaveSample

GIFT 6: THE GIFT OF A NEW STORY

“Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19 NASB)

You have the gift of a new story.

Life being what it is, there will come a time when everything seems new. Starting all over in any area means certain things have ended, a new story begins, and there is no going back to what was.

Starting over can be exciting, sad, uncomfortable, and scary. It takes shifting our attention from where it used to be for quite some time to put it on where we are now and where we are going.

Sometimes, God brings us something new that requires us to start over or do an aspect of life differently than before. A new story may or may not be welcome, but we must take steps to build on what He's given us.

Starting over is always challenging. It is challenging to shake off a comfort zone we have lived in for a while. It helps to remind ourselves that our story is ours alone, and we shouldn't compare ourselves to others. We are the only ones who can work on our new stories for us.

Can you be grateful for your new story, even if it doesn't look like something you would have asked God for? Will you keep taking the steps you need to so you can be successful in this new season, as tricky as those steps seem to be? Freedom comes when our fists are no longer clenched in possession of things past. As we shift to gratitude even here, we open ourselves to receiving new and fresh gifts from God.

Prayer:

Lord, show me what I'm holding onto and help me to let go so my new story can start. Is there an old wineskin into which I'm trying to pour new wine? I know that staying where everything is familiar and where I feel safe isn't a breeding ground for my growth physically, emotionally, spiritually, or financially. What is the first step I must take to begin this journey in a new direction? Show me, and I will go there with you, Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.