It’s that time when I ask the Lord for a prophetic word to focus on for the year. There has been a recurring theme over the last few weeks of a new thing and newness; this has been echoed in a Bible verse that I have received many times, Isaiah 43:18-19:

18 Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

I sense that 2025 is a year to let go of the past and embrace the new things that the Lord is bringing to our attention. The time of dismantling that has taken place over the last 5 years is over; it’s been a period of preparation and training for what’s to come. There are new projects, adventures, places and people coming to us. A time of opportunity and creating something new. Not rebuilding things from the past, but building from scratch; something fresh and much needed for a generation who have walked through a tough season. We will be anointed with a creativity that connects with those who are ready to hear the gospel, that speaks truth and love, and brings lasting change. 

These new opportunities will spring up from nowhere, but we will need to be focused on God so that we see what he is doing. A deeper relationship with the Lord is needed, so that we aren’t sidetracked by distractions. It’s easy to go off course when everything seems exciting and different. 

In verse 18 of the Isaiah passage, we are reminded to forget the former things. If we cannot let go of the past, we will struggle to walk into our future. There may be things holding us back that we aren’t aware of, so it’s important to ask the Lord what needs to be left in the past. By letting go of things that are no longer fruitful, there is room for God to work in our lives and situations so that he can bring the new. 

And finally, verse 19 reminds us that the Lord creates a way where we cannot see a way forward. He creates a path through the mess and rubble of our lives to bring us the new things he has planned for us. No situation is too hard for him to bring change. This means that we need to be open to what the Lord has for us and open to the change. It may come in ways that we don’t expect, it may not look the way we think it should, but it will bring the newness we desire and lead us into greater things. So this year, step into the new…