A new calling…. A new season… time to step out again.

You step forward… your steps unsure. Ideally, you should be jogging out on the sidelines… rearing to go. But, no. You are scared. You take a moment to calm your nerves.

And then, your mind goes back to the past, you remember your past victories, you remember the times God came through for you. It’s a solo moment. You need to encourage yourself.

Isaiah 43:16-17 This is what the Lord says – he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, 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

And so you remember the good things you were told about yourself, you remember the close-shaves in the past, you remember the strategies that worked, you remember the sunny day in your past relationships, you remember your past successes….

That serves to re-ignite you. Something in you is triggered to believe again. You begin to take slow steps towards the pitch. There’s an inner voice that whispers “I can do this”.

But wait a minute. The Coach calls you aside… whispers in your ear. You are taken aback. It’s not the same. The Play Has Changed.

Isaiah 43:18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

You see, many times, we walk into new life circumstances, pre-programmed to play by the rules of our past experiences. We carry our past victories, not knowing the new circumstances demand a new strategy; We carry our past failures, not knowing that we are being judged based on a whole new set of expectations; We carry our past miracles, not knowing God is not limited to doing the same thing He did the last time we encountered Him.

Our former circumstances – yes, the good, the bad, and the ugly – while, they may form a basis of who we are, should not limit our expectations of the future.

Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

When life ushers us into a new season, we must understand that the new season will present a new set of challenges – and will demand a freshness of perspective, if we are to thrive in it.

We must consciously approach our new opportunities with a blank slate that says “Here I am, I will give my best, and expect nothing but the best.”

Our best chance then is in having a mind renewal, an expectant spirit, and a ball of passion that will drive us to reach out and conquer the new mountains that lie ahead of us.

We must learnt to let go of the reins of the past… give of ourselves freely into the future… and draw in only positive energy that will propel us forward… even when The Play Has Changed.

Staying in the Game….is really a journey of faith… it’s a journey of continually re-inventing ourselves….to stay relevant in the face of life’s changing circumstances. Bon Voyage