God did not stop creating on the sixth day, but continues to create new things in our lives.  Think about one of the greatest challenges you are facing now.  Are you hoping God will repair your situation, salvage the mess you have, lift you out of your problems or create an answer to bring you through the challenge?

“For I am about to do something new. 

See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:19

The wilderness and wasteland are those difficult times we face. Too often we want out of our problems but want things to remain the same. We hate change but want things to get better.  Sounds crazy, right?  Yet most of us find ourselves in that situation where we value our comfort or what we know more than the unknown even if it would be better.  One friend once told me, “The bad I know is better than the bad I don’t know.”

There was a wealthy young man who came to Jesus asking about eternal life. He had kept the commands and seemed to do the right things in life. Jesus gave him one more directive in Matthew 19.

²⁰ “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”

²¹ Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

He was so locked into the old ways of serving God he didn’t see the creativity that Jesus offered if he had stepped out in faith.

We get locked into the “old ways,” of the past.  Sometimes that is with how we earn a living or go about our relationships.  Sometimes it is about how we handle our money and time. Sometimes it is as simple as how and what we eat that we refuse creativity.

Years ago I was working on farm when we had a lunch break. The farmer provided baloney and grape jelly sandwiches. Having never tried that combination, I nearly refused to eat because it sounded gross.  Eventually my teenage hunger won out and I tried that sandwich only to determine it was good. It will never be my favorite but I learned to appreciate the creativity and enjoy something new.

We get that way even about good things. If there was a memorable church service with a demonstration of Gods power, we want to repeat the experience over and over.  We find ourselves looking for the same music, patterns, and responses, when in fact God wants to create a new thing for us. A God who can make every snowflake different certainly can find creative ways to impact and improve our lives.

As you journey this 30 Days of Renewal try asking God to create new experiences for you. Ask God to create a way through your troubles, not just lift you out.  Hang on for a fun ride, renewal can be creative and exciting.

Prayer: Jesus, I believe you are still creating and will create opportunities and moments when you will perform the unbelievable when I least expect it.  Help me to be open to your new and exciting ways. Help me to never try to limit what you want to do in my live.

1. What areas of your life have you found yourself resisting God’s creative solutions?
2. Even though traditions can be good, are there any traditions that have you locked down?
3. If you are going through a dry place or wilderness, take a moment to ask God to provide a creative solution; something you have never asked for or maybe even thought about.