Season of Newness...

The child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him."                                                                                                           
                                            Luke 2:40




There is nothing that inspires more hope for the future and for possibilities than to peer into the face of a newborn baby. They are pure and beautiful and they radiate much of what is good in the world. They usher in a season of newness into a family or church or any other group to which they belong.

When God chose to send Jesus as a newborn baby there was so much that He was revealing to us. In addition to the fulfillment of prophecies, He was saying, "Behold, I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:5). The old order has gone and the new order has come.

Everything surrounding Jesus' birth was a miracle. Again and again, God shows us that nothing is impossible with Him. He has the ability to breakthrough everything natural and burst forth into all that is supernatural.

He is limited by nothing or no one. His power trumps every law of nature and even what we can conceive in our minds. He is "able to [carry out His purpose(s) and] do super-abundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams]" (Ephesians 3:20). He can literally blow our minds!

As Jesus grew into a child, we are told that He grew stronger and wiser and He walked in grace. This is the word that I believe God has for us today. As we enter into this new season we should continue to grow in strength and in wisdom and grace.

The Bible tells us that as believers we "go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]" (Psalm 84:7). As our dependence upon and devotion to God grows, we find that our strength comes from Him alone. We receive what we need and then we give it out to others. In this, we grow stronger day by day.

He is our Light and our Salvation (Psalm 27:1) and He becomes our strength in times of trouble (Psalm 37:39). As we continually abide in Him regardless of our circumstances, He makes our soul like iron (Psalm 105:18, Jubilee). David said, "On the day I called You answered me; and You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life" (Psalm 138:3).

As we grow stronger, we also grow in wisdom. Biblically, there are things we can do to become wiser. Reading the Word of God is one of them. David tells us that God's Word "is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

Another thing we can do is to seek wisdom. The book of Proverbs tells us that "if you will receive My words and treasure My commandments within you, so that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly]; yes, if you will cry out for insight, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver and search for her as you would hidden treasures; then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshipping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] and discover the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-6).

We can also ask for wisdom. When God asked Solomon what he desired, it was wisdom that he sought and God honored and blessed that decision. James tells us that, "if any of you lacks wisdom, [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God's willingness to help]" (James 1:5-6).

Insight will help us to genuinely learn from our trials and will allow them to train us (Hebrews 12:11). Each trial has a divine purpose and each one carries with it a reward. They develop our character and ultimately yield a crown of life (James 1:12). In the midst of every trial God will "provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Lastly, we can continue to grow in grace. Peter tells us to "grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). This means we become more and more like Jesus. This happens as a result of what God does inside of us. We grow in our understanding of what Jesus has done for us and in our appreciation of the grace we have been given.

He sanctifies and transforms us to become more like Himself. The Holy Spirit convicts and gives us the power to transform into the image of the Son. Ultimately, our lives will prove what God has done within us when "We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Like Jesus, we can become stronger, increase in wisdom, and grow in the grace of God. As we enter into this new season that God has for us, this should be our goal. This is what will bring God glory in this season of newness!


"Behold, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
                                                          Isaiah 43:19