Thursday, December 28, 2023 3:10:12 AM
Seasons with God
~ May your time with God this week be filled with the loving presence of your heavenly Father.
The seasons of the year created by the powerful hands of our heavenly Father speak of the need to slow down, stop, and reflect. Times of reflection create space for God’s Spirit to speak, helping us remember what he has done, making us aware of what he is doing, and stirring our hearts for what he wants to do next. God loves to use a change in season to remind us to center our lives around his pervasive works. Whether it be a change in jobs, weather, moving, or the approaching of a new year, it’s crucial that we make space for God to speak to us and prepare us for the wonderful things he has planned.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 illustrates this principle in saying:
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
“A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.”
“A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.”
“A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”
“A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.”
“A time to embrace and a time to turn away.”
The best place to begin reflection is in remembering. I don’t know whether this year was one filled with heartache or laughter for you. I don’t know whether you experienced loss or new beginnings. I don’t know whether you cried tears of joy or sadness. But your heavenly Father does. And it’s in quiet remembrance that He wants to comfort you, rejoice with you, and wrap you in His arms. It’s in remembrance that He wants to bring about healing, grace, love, and perspective. Take time today to remember.
Next, take time to ask the Holy Spirit for revelation on the present. Just as seasons help us to remember the past, they beg of us to live in the present. God is doing a mighty work in and around you right now. This is a time for faith and deep encounters with the transforming love of God. This is a time to savor the beauty of the current and to rest in the goodness of the immediate. God is present to meet with you, love you, and fill you. He has strength, grace, comfort, and joy for you if you will make space to receive the fullness of what He wants to give.
Take time today to savor.
Lastly, God longs to fill you with hope and expectancy for His future plans. The new year, filled with its possibilities and new beginnings, is quickly approaching. Your heavenly Father, who dwells in all of eternity, longs to prepare you for what is to come. He longs to lay a foundation for your year with a fresh revelation of His love, faithfulness, and presence. He longs to fill you with hope and desires that He will see through to fruition. Take time today to allow Him to prepare you for all next year holds.
May your time in prayer be marked by clarity and revelation in the Holy Spirit as you engage in these practices.
May Galatians 6:7-10 stir within you a commitment to fully engage in the season in which God has you:
“Don’t be misled [deceived] — you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So, let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone — especially to those in the family of faith.”
_________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/seasons-with-god-2023/
•
~ May your time with God this week be filled with the loving presence of your heavenly Father.
The seasons of the year created by the powerful hands of our heavenly Father speak of the need to slow down, stop, and reflect. Times of reflection create space for God’s Spirit to speak, helping us remember what he has done, making us aware of what he is doing, and stirring our hearts for what he wants to do next. God loves to use a change in season to remind us to center our lives around his pervasive works. Whether it be a change in jobs, weather, moving, or the approaching of a new year, it’s crucial that we make space for God to speak to us and prepare us for the wonderful things he has planned.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 illustrates this principle in saying:
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
“A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.”
“A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.”
“A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”
“A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.”
“A time to embrace and a time to turn away.”
The best place to begin reflection is in remembering. I don’t know whether this year was one filled with heartache or laughter for you. I don’t know whether you experienced loss or new beginnings. I don’t know whether you cried tears of joy or sadness. But your heavenly Father does. And it’s in quiet remembrance that He wants to comfort you, rejoice with you, and wrap you in His arms. It’s in remembrance that He wants to bring about healing, grace, love, and perspective. Take time today to remember.
Next, take time to ask the Holy Spirit for revelation on the present. Just as seasons help us to remember the past, they beg of us to live in the present. God is doing a mighty work in and around you right now. This is a time for faith and deep encounters with the transforming love of God. This is a time to savor the beauty of the current and to rest in the goodness of the immediate. God is present to meet with you, love you, and fill you. He has strength, grace, comfort, and joy for you if you will make space to receive the fullness of what He wants to give.
Take time today to savor.
Lastly, God longs to fill you with hope and expectancy for His future plans. The new year, filled with its possibilities and new beginnings, is quickly approaching. Your heavenly Father, who dwells in all of eternity, longs to prepare you for what is to come. He longs to lay a foundation for your year with a fresh revelation of His love, faithfulness, and presence. He longs to fill you with hope and desires that He will see through to fruition. Take time today to allow Him to prepare you for all next year holds.
May your time in prayer be marked by clarity and revelation in the Holy Spirit as you engage in these practices.
May Galatians 6:7-10 stir within you a commitment to fully engage in the season in which God has you:
“Don’t be misled [deceived] — you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So, let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone — especially to those in the family of faith.”
_________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/seasons-with-god-2023/
•
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