Faith Forward: A Change in Perception

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.

Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. ¹⁵ For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.

Matthew 13:14-15 (NIV)

We Can SEE What God Is Doing But Not PERCEIVE It.

This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, ¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 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. ²⁰ The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, ²¹ the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

Isaiah 43:16-21 (NIV)

We Can Faith Forward Together With God Into 2026 When We…

P URSUE What God Is SAYING, Not Just What He’s SAID.

This is what the Lord says—

Isaiah 43:16a (NIV)

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

Revelations 2:7 (NIV)

“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.” 

John 16:12-15 (CSB)

E STEEM & EXCLAIM God’s Credibility.

…he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, ¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 

Isaiah 43:16b-17 (NIV)

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. 

Psalm 27:13-14 (NASB1995)

R EMEMBER God’s FAITHFULNESS, Not Focusing On The FORM.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

Isaiah 43:18 (NIV)

²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” ²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” ²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Mark 8:23-25 (NIV)

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” ⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:51-52 (NIV)

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands… ⁹ I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. ¹⁰ You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.”

Leviticus 26:3, 9-10 (NIV)

C HOOSE God’s PRESENCE More Than His PROVIDENCE.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Isaiah 43:19a (NIV)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. 

Psalm 27:4 (AMP)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

John 15:5 (NIV)

E XPECT God To Be CREATIVE & CONSISTENT.

…Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Isaiah 43:19b (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe^[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:30-31 (NIV)

I DENTIFY The WILDERNESS As Part Of God’s PLAN.

…I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 

Isaiah 43:19c (NIV)

We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. ⁴ And patience produces character, and character produces hope. 

Romans 5:3-4 (NCV)

V ISUALIZE God Turning BARRIERS Into BLESSINGS.

I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen… 

Isaiah 43:20b (NIV)