God often works in seasons just like the weather. It is important to realize what season of life you are both physically and spiritually. Churches also go through seasons. Seasons of growth, seasons of revival even seasons of people leaving. All of which are good, when they hurt a little.
What does the Bible say about seasons?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (msg)
There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth: A right time for birth and another for death, A right time to plant and another to reap, A right time to kill and another to heal, A right time to destroy and another to construct, A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer, A right time to make love and another abstain, A right time to embrace and another to part, A right time to search and another to count your losses, A right time to hold on and another to let go, A right time to rip out and another to mend, A right time to shut up and another to speak up, A right time to love and another to hate, A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
Let’s begin by discussing the natural seasons.
Winter-
This past winter was a “real winter.” Temperatures below 0 for days, lots of snow and ice. There were days when I didn’t come into the church office because it was so cold. Do you know what that did? It killed off bugs and trees that were almost dead.
Spring-
Boy I love spring! It’s when things come alive. The birds come out, the grass turns green, kids can go play outside and I can fire up grill. This is a symbol of new beginnings.
Summer-
Growing up in Florida, I have a grasp on summer……… HOT!!!! There were times where you could literally make a batch of cookies on your car dash board and even fry an egg on the sidewalk- it was that hot outside. Summer to me is a symbols of relaxation & family time along with many outreaches.
Fall-
I have to say fall is my favorite season. For 30 years I hadn’t experienced the beauty of watching the leaves change color. This in itself is one of the main reasons that fall is my favorite season- that as well as cooler weather!
There are spiritual seasons in life just as natural seasons. I am going to discuss a few tonight.
Dry Season-
This is often the toughest season that you will experience in your Christian walk. You feel that God has left and abandon you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (msg)
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”
Waiting Season-
You see we live in a microwave society. Pop something in the microwave and a minute later it is finished. Our human nature doesn’t want to wait. Abraham waited almost 100 years for Isaac to be born.
Genesis 21:5 (nlt)
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
The children of Israel wondered around for 40 years. Let’s look at Joshua 5:6
Joshua 5:6 (nlt)
The Israelite had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who ere old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had dies. For they had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed He would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us-a land flowing with milk and honey.
Busy Season-
This is not necessarily bad although it can be if you allow your priorities to change. I’ll explain it like this. The last 6 weeks at our church, Bethesda House, has had one event after another. The next six weeks or so will continue to be like this as well. With this in mind, we need to focus and prioritize our time. If we do not, we can get lost in just being busy. I do not believe God wants you or I to live this way.
Psalms 95:5 (amp)
“The sea is His, for He made it {by His command}; And His hands formed the dry land.”
God owns everything anyway! Take a moment each morning and give your day to God. Something amazing will happen when you do this.
Happy Season-
We all want to live in this season-everything is going right, I have a good job and money in the bank. When you are in this season, remember who got you there- it was God. Remember to give Him all the praise, honor & glory.
James 5:13 (amp)
…Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises {to God}.
I want you to remember that you might be going through some changes in the season you are in. I want to tell you that God knows what you are going through and He is here to help.
Over the next few weeks I will be going more in depth over the different seasons which I will link here and here and here and here as they are posted.
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