WHAT’S YOUR NEW NORMAL?

The primary definition of normal according to Merriam Webster is “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern; characterized by that which is considered usual, typical, or routine”; or “a form or state regarded as the norm; standard.”

As believers in Jesus Christ, there is nothing about us that is usual, typical or routine!  When we accept Christ, we are born again. We are no longer a product of the world. The Bible says in Christ we become new creations; old things pass away and everything becomes new.2 Cor. 5:17 Spiritually speaking, we are born out of this world of darkness and are placed into God’s Kingdom rule! We become unique in Him. We are God’s children. Compared to this world, we are no longer normal—we are extraordinary, special people! 1 Pe. 2:9 

We are unlimited through Christ’s strength—we are complete in Him. Col. 2:10 We possess His powerful resurrection life. All things now become possible when we trust Him. Mk. 9:23; 1 Cor. 1:30 In Christ you are not typical, ordinary, or routine. We cannot define ourselves by the world’s normal.

It is imperative as believers moving forward in 2022 that we define ourselves  by God’s Word. The world has one way and standard. However, as children of God and citizens of His Kingdom, we have a different standard. We must be very clear in our identity.  If we mix standards or try to combine the world’s way and God’s way, we will be unable to carry His power and love to hurting people. God will not cease to love us, but our capability to do His will diminishes significantly. 

His way is specific, and it is narrow. Jn. 14:6; Matt. 7:13-14  The Gospel of  Jesus Christ is powerful to deliver. Rom. 1:16 Who we are in Christ is powerful. This revelation that comes through the Word of God must increase in our hearts and minds if we are to advance fearless and strong in serving Him. 

The Old Testament prophets always spoke pointing to Jesus.  They spoke of when He would come and what He would bring. For example, the prophet Ezekiel told the children of Israel of a day and time they would get a new heart and a new spirit. They were to turn back to God and stop going their own way and doing their own thing.

Ezek. 18:31-32 NKJV

31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord God. Therefore turn and live!"

Ezek. 36:26-28 NKJV

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27  will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.  28Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 

God was going to make all things new for them by creating in them a new heart.

The Scripture tells us that at the right moment in time God sent Jesus to deliver the people. Gal. 4:4  It is not His will for anyone to perish in sin apart from Him. Jn. 3:16  Jesus came and demonstrated a new way to people. He forgave sin, healed sick bodies, and rebuked religious people for not grasping God’s mercy to help the people. Jesus spoke of new wine that must be poured into new wineskins. Mk. 2:22  He spoke of a new covenant that would be initiated as the  result of His blood being shed. Mk. 14:24-25  Jesus was nailed to a cross and died for the sins of the world. The third day He was raised by the power of God. As a result, when we believe Jesus died for us and that God raised Him from the dead, we become new. Rom. 10:9-10   

More specifically, Paul explained that in Christ we become new creations: 

17 Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! 2 Cor. 5:17-18:Message Bible

Paul wrote the Galatian Church and told them that the only thing that really makes a difference is this new creation. Gal. 6:15  Paul told the Ephesians: 

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Eph 4:21-24

He encouraged the Colossians: 

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Col 3:10-11

This new creation is our new norm! Jesus makes all things new! Rev. 21:5  We must get into the Word of God and refresh and inspire ourselves as to who we really are.  We are not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by changing our minds to think like Him. Rom. 12:2 As a new creation we have great promises and privileges in Christ.  Eph. 1:3; 2 Pe.1:3-4 Do we know what we have been given? Are we living each day in these great benefits? Our new norm as Believers is to be like Him! Shake off the past and get persistent in the Word. Begin to accept what God says about you. Believe and embrace His Word as the TRUTH. It is time, my brothers and sisters, to be God’s New Norm—a spirit-filled, spirit-led, on-fire lover of Jesus, Who is reaching people with His power and love! Time is of the essence! 

GOD’S NEW NORM FOR US

 I encourage you to read the references below. Write them down and mediate on them. These truths all belong to you, but for them to become real and powerful in your life, you must see them as your own.  It does not matter if you don’t feel like they could be—they belong to you nonetheless!  Refuse to settle for the world’s norm that is far less than the benefits your Heavenly Father has provided for you. Dare to receive and walk in them. Start today … and keep going!

LIVING FOCUSED

In these last days we can live fearlessly, governed by peace. Jesus said, “My peace I give to you ….” and “in this world you will have tribulation, but fear not, for I have overcome the world.” Jn 14:27; Jn 16:33 To be able to live our lives in this manner, we must keep our thoughts focused on Christ. Paul admonishes believers to set their minds on heavenly, not earthly, things. Col. 3:2 The writer to the Hebrews tells us to consider Jesus and all He did for us, so we can stay strong and not become weary. Heb. 12:1-3 We are even told specifically what we are to stay focused on—those things that are good, true, just, lovely, and of a good report … . Phil. 4:8 We are to believe the Truth—God’s Word—over everything contrary to it and reject the opportunity to be anxious. 

Living focused on Christ means we live spiritually alert lives. Knowing that Jesus defeated our enemy aligns us with His victory. Keeping our minds and hearts focused on Christ is a choice of our wills. We can do it through Christ who gives us the strength!

We don’t ignore the negative and/or evil circumstances around us. Instead, we are ready to hit evil head-on through our fellowship with Jesus and His Word alive in our hearts. We know that the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty in God to pulling down enemy strongholds. 2 Cor. 10:4-5 We make the exchange of the bad with the good Word of God. 

For example, some years ago I was in the hospital room with a believing friend who was unable to speak up for herself at the time. As the doctors rotated into the room, all they could say were such things as this is bad, call the family, we don’t know anyone who has lived with this. The diagnosis was grim and, from the doctors’ point of view, pretty hopeless. We knew we had to address those negative words that, if reflected and meditated on, could cause doubt and unbelief to dominate. So, we thanked the doctors, and said, “She will live and not die. Our faith is based upon God’s Word. We believe that God will heal and restore according to His plan and purpose!  The Lord will do a miracle here. We trust Him. Thank you so much for doing all you know to do. We are praying for wisdom for you.” This believer chose life! 

One month later, she was talking, walking, and leaving one state to go to another for rehabilitation. She is about 9/10 fully recovered today. Her faith is active. She is on fire for God. She is full of the Word. She is a passionate witness and prays and sees others healed. She is a good example of facing the evil report and conquering it. One must keep focused on the life and vision of God rather than what the world’s system declares. It has not been easy for this believer, but her faith is in God alone, and she refuses to have less than God’s best for her life. What about you?

In 1 Samuel 17, the story of a youth named David defeating the giant, Goliath, is told in great detail. David had walked with God as a shepherd experiencing God’s enabling power to protect his flocks from predators. When a powerful foreign enemy came against the armies of Israel, the regiments—including King Saul—were afraid and intimidated. David was not. He chose to trust and believe in God’s power and goodness with him.

David’s response to the negative situation was to say, in part, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Confident in faith, David ran to defeat his enemy. No matter what you may be facing today, choose God’s good word for your life. Keep your focus on Him. Replace the negative words of the enemy with the life-giving Word of God and allow His peace to reign over your mind and heart. It is His good plan for you.

WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT

The Bible makes this profound statement: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7. It means we become like pilots—when we can see nothing out our “windows” because the way is foggy due to challenging personal situations, we must operate by the manual to fly the plane. The manual for flying the plane of our life is the Word of God. 

That believers are to “walk by faith” is something we have all heard for years. Some-times we can hear a truth so much that we be-come numb to its vital meaning. We can quote a Scripture, yet its powerful reality is lost in the mental exercise of agreement! We must keep the Word fresh by its daily application in our lives. (In the past you likely have posted meaningful verses, perhaps on your bathroom mirror or in an-other easily seen location, to keep your mind on God’s good Word every day. Nowadays helpful technology opens up powerful options for mobile encouragement beyond Scripture wallpaper and screensavers on a laptop. For a Bible app that can even read selected verses aloud to you during the day, see http://www.youtube.com/user/youversion for one of the freely downloadable possibilities!) 

We are to live in this world knowing that we are not of this world, since God’s Spirit has transformed our earthly citizenship to a heavenly one. Our whole perspective changes when we learn about our new life and country through studying God’s Word. Instead of being controlled by the things of this world, we actively renew our minds with the Word and al-low ourselves to be led by the Spirit of God now living in us. 

We are all governed by vision. Our vision will direct all we say and do. Is our focus on God’s unbreakable promises to us, or are we looking at the things around us, whether seen or unseen? Does “looking at unseen things” sound like a contradiction? If you think about it, all individuals are governed by things they have not seen to some extent. For example, people set goals and work to attain them. This is really an act of faith, since no one has attained a goal at the beginning of a journey. 

While there is no guarantee that a worldly goal will be reached, that is not true for the believer walking by faith. As believers, we have an assurance as we walk by faith and not by sight that God will fulfill His Word to us. 

Abraham, an old man who desired an heir with his barren wife, received a seemingly impossible promise from God—a multitude of descendants. Then, after the birth of Isaac, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only heir. 

In this entire story, Abraham trusted God’s Word. He did not consider his age nor his wife’s, nor did he consider their physical bodies—but looked to God’s promise to be fulfilled. He talked out loud about his new role—he was the Father of many nations and Sarah was the mother of kings. Rom.4: 14-21 

Specifically, Romans 4:17 declares that “God . . . calls those things which do not exist as though they did,” and Abraham began acting like God Himself. He saw the end—an heir—by faith and acted as though it were all completed before he ever saw anything. In the end, through every test, Abraham stood true on the promise God gave him—that he would have a multitude of descendants—and the promise came to pass! 

Your Isaac may be a health issue or another personal need. Walking by faith is not ignoring circumstances or situations. Faith begins in our hearts seeing things as God sees them. Then, in order for circumstances to change around us, we align with God’s good plan and purpose expressed in His Word. 

Walking by faith and not by sight is an active, purposeful adherence to a biblical picture of truth for us. Whether it be healing, deliverance, or biblical abundance, in order to obtain the prize as God lays it out, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and completer of our faith, by allowing His truth to saturate our lives. As a result, we live and speak as though the promise were actually fulfilled. You are in Christ victorious! Surround yourself with His Word and stand firm in God’s truth as you walk by faith daily, with the expectation of a good result from the hand of a caring Father. 

EVERY MOUNTAIN A MOLEHILL!

Time to Change Perspective

If you feel there is a mountain of obstacles in your way today, take to heart the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, when He faced the daunting task of rebuilding the Temple with returning exiles who were discouraged and felt it impossible.

6 Then he said to me, "This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: 'May God bless it! May God bless it!'" Zech. 4:6-7

Let’s re-read our passage from Zechariah from the Amplified Bible … Zech. 4:6-7 AMP:

6 Then he said to me, This [addition of the bowl to the candlestick, causing it to yield a ceaseless supply of oil from the olive trees] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts. 7 For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who with Joshua had led the return of the exiles from Babylon and was under-taking the rebuilding of the temple, before him] you shall become a plain [a mere molehill]! And he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone [of the new temple] with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it!

In this passage of Scripture, Zerubbabel feels overwhelmed by the task at hand. He is one of the leaders of Israel who is coming back from exile. They are returning with a task: rebuild the Temple. There is opposition from their enemies, and he has no army with which to fight. The people are totally discouraged because the job seems impossible, (to Zerubbabel too). There seems to be no resources with which to build … the vision cannot be completed.

Throughout the Scriptures, mountains are generally used symbolically to refer to impossible obstacles. The Prophet Isaiah said, in Isa. 40:4 that “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain.” In the New Testament Paul says that “4the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments (imaginations) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:4-5 NKJV

The Lord taught His disciples about dealing with “mountains” in Mark 11:23. On a particular occasion, Jesus cursed a fig tree. When the disciples saw the dead fig tree withered from the roots, they were amazed. At their amazement, Jesus said to them emphatically, "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. NIV The spiritual principle is that obstacles will always be around us. The Holy Spirit teaches us to trust in God who alone has all power and might to accomplish any task, and not to focus on what seems impossible.

In our text the prophet is telling Zerubbabel plainly that by no human strength or army or man-made weapon could the Temple be rebuilt. He had to believe and trust in God’s power alone to help him. So with the Word of the Prophet ringing in His ears, Zerubbabel confidently begins the work, believing that God will not only restore the community but also level any mountain (obstacle) that stands in his path.

The same is true for us today. Each one of us may be facing a mountain of impossibilities. God comes with His Word to you however, and says, “Trust in MY might and power. Trust and believe in My Spirit in you. Hear MY voice and follow ME. DO what I say, speak what I say, and TRUST ME with all of your heart.” To all the voices that say “Impossible!” remember Jesus’ Word: "If you can believe, all things are possible to him (or her) who believes." Mk. 9:23 NKJV The question we need to ask ourselves is do we believe God is greater and more powerful than whatever we may be facing?

The only way we can be confident in His Word and in His voice within our hearts is to spend time in His Word with Him daily. There are no shortcuts! Our got-to-have-it-now culture will not serve us in following God’s Will. It takes a choice to develop a relationship with the Lord and learn and grow in confidence in discerning His voice. As you grow, you will see that there is no mountain is too great for God in you! Are you seeing mountains or molehills today? Think about it!

KEEP AN ETERNAL FOCUS!

Paul said, and I paraphrase, I will run my race …not look around … but focus on crossing the finish line at the end. I set my eye on the prize. I’m straining, stretching forward, and I’m going to face God! My eye is on the prize! He told the Philippians:

12 I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above. (Note: his eternity focus!) 15 All of us who are spiritually mature should think this way, too. And if there are things you do not agree with, God will make them clear to you. … 17 Brothers and sisters, all of you should try to follow my example and to copy those who live the way we showed you. 18 Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about them, and it makes me cry to tell you about them now. 19 In the end, they will be destroyed.

They do whatever their bodies want, they are proud of their shameful acts, and they think only about earthly things. 20 But our homeland is in heaven, and we are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. Phil. 3:12-20 NCV

Paul lived with His focus on eternity! Yes, he worked a job when he was not preaching. Yes, he believed God like he taught others. However, all he did, he did for eternity and God took care of him and all his needs! Paul imitated Christ—in focus. Jesus lived with His focus on the Kingdom—on eternity. What’s your focus? Is it “all about ME” in the present, or is it about eternity?

If the King of the Kingdom resides in us, then He is desiring to manifest His Kingdom power and life through us now in this world. This is eternity-focused, yet it affects the here and now! How is this possible? Paul teaches us how. He taught the Romans:

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Rom.12: 1-2 NKJV

Once we are saved, we are firstly to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. We dedicate our bodies to Him because they belong to Him now! He bought us with His blood. Ever since the Fall, our bodies have been driven by sin and dominated by our senses. Consequently, it is so important to offer our bodies to Him. We must now keep our bodies clean and filled with His Spirit. His Spirit will empower us to regain our reign over the flesh!

Secondly, we reprogram our thinking. We must download God’s Word—His thoughts to our minds! Just because our spirits have been reborn, our minds still think the same old way as before. We need to change the way we think—from a new position—in Christ, seated with Him in Heavenly places! We are no longer to be ruled by the flesh or senses or by the temptations of things around us. This takes work to reset our minds according to God’s plan, His Word.

It is not enough to know the Word of God in your head. It is not enough to agree that the Word is true. It is not enough to confess the Word. Mental agreement or assent never possesses the Word, enabling us to reign with Christ. We stay frustrated because it seems like the Word does not work for us. Meditation is the key to spirit-ruled, eternity-focused living! It brings God’s good plan from the head to the heart!

We repeatedly turn it over and over in our minds and hearts and say it in our mouths! We put ourselves in the Scripture. We ask: “If the Word is THE TRUTH, then how does this change my situation?” Once you begin to see your situation differently, you have started to possess the Word! Keep on meditating. This is process of bringing the unseen eternal world into this world!

Paul told the Corinthians: while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:18; and For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7

Remember, the life we have here in this world is miniscule in comparison to all eternity! What we do here affects our eternity. So live wisely, focused on eternity!

SEEING CIRCUMSTANCES THROUGH THE EYES OF HOPE

The Bible says:  “28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31but those who hope in the Lord will re- new their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”. NIV Isa. 40:28-31

As believers, we are to be a people of hope. This simply means that we live governed by an expectation of His promises being fulfilled in our lives. Hope is our reality, or it should be. Our circumstances are just the conditions in which we find ourselves. For His hope to be our reality, the Word must be paramount in our lives. If it is not, then all we hear and see becomes our truth … rather than His Word being the ultimate Truth reigning in our lives—over every negative impossibility. To live with hope is to live with a certainty that surely: “All things are possible with God.” Mk. 10:27

In this world, hopelessness crashes many a party. Looking at your “reality” today could very well cause you to feel despair or fear. That is why the Lord exhorts us to keep our eyes on Him and His Word! His Word brings hope to us and becomes the building block to our faith! God’s Word challenges us daily: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Prov. 3:5-6 NKJV

When we trust Him, we trust His Word to us. David penned, remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. Ps. 119:49-50 NIV David also wrote: You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Ps. 119:114 NIV

In the NT, Paul proclaimed before King Agrippa: “And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today.” Acts 26:6-7 NIV Paul’s faith was built on his hope in God’s promises. Faith that possesses God’s promises is based upon a living hope—His Word cannot fail. Jesus and the Word are one.

Put your full trust in His Word. In doing this, hope (an expectation of His promise to you fulfilled), will rise up in your heart. Hope’s glasses in all circumstances will see God’s reality for you— not the world’s: the doctors diagnosis, the banker’s statement, or the lies of the enemy. Hope sees possibilities. Hope inspires faith. Romans describes Abraham’s faith in this way: Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Rom. 4:18 NIV Abraham’s faith was built on an in-spired impenetrable hope in God’s promise to him. We can have this kind of living hope too.

Choose today which reality will be yours: hope-filled or hope-less. Grab hold of HOPE; re-fuse to have less than what is promised; stand unrelentingly. HIS TRUTH is the reality. The truth the world has is not ours. God’s Word alone has the final say-so across the board of our experiences. Let’s put on Hope’s glasses today and be encouraged. After all, Jesus is our hope and He is very much alive. (1 Tim. 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:3)