Recognizing The Seasons

RECOGNIZING THE SEASONS

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

This morning I look out the window and consider the Lord’s handiwork.  I consider the changes that take place as evidence of the current season.

Where we live, summertime is adorned with vibrant blooms, while the grass withers and turns brown.  In the winter, the trees are bare and appear dead, but the hills are covered in a rolling carpet of vibrant green.  In every season of life there are things that burst to life while other things fade away.

Lately, I have been pondering stories in the Word about life, death and resurrection.  This morning the story about Lazarus comes to mind.

“Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.  When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” - John 11:38-44

In His wisdom, the Lord allows some things to die, while others He chooses to resurrect. There is an appointed time for each thing to be born and to die (Ecc 3:1-8).  His ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts like our thoughts (Is 55:8-9).

Maybe there are times when things are allowed to die in our lives before their time, before their season, because, like Lazarus, He intends to resurrect them for His glory.

Maybe we discount His ability to perform the miraculous, so when things die out of season we just walk away and grieve the loss, instead of contending for what could be.  Maybe there are things in our lives that have died out of season and He is waiting for us to call upon Him to resurrect them.

Father, we come before You. Your Word says in James 4:2b – “You have not, because you ask not.”  Give us divine understanding about the season of each thing.

We ask for grace to accept the things that died in their proper season.  We also ask, in Your sovereignty, to show us the things that may have died out of season, that You desire to give new life for Your glory.

If You can raise the dead, You can heal a broken body, a broken heart or broken relationship, fill empty pockets, multiply loaves and fishes and bring sight to the blind.  You can remove disease, banish pain and return what was lost.

Align our thoughts and faith with Your will.  Do not allow us to ascribe words to You that You have not spoken, but equally, do not let us settle for death, when You offer resurrection.

Thank You that You do what You say You will do (Romans 9:5a).  Lord, it’s a new day.  Resurrect our faith.  And then resurrect what died out of season!  In Jesus’ Name. ❤️

Beloved, God will not resurrect what He has allowed to die in its proper season. But there are times, that He will allow things to happen so He can show us His power and glory. Why not ask Him to show you if He has a miracle in mind? 💡

If you have been encouraged or challenged, please repost and further His kingdom!  Then come, follow and be refreshed at:
https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A City On A Hill

Image
A CITY ON A HILL By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.” – Matthew‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭GW‬‬ And I saw thousands of souls struggling in a churning sea.  Under the darkness of a moonless sky, without a boat, they were tossed.  Beneath them sharks swam, nipping at heels, eliciting sharp cries from those who flailed.  It caused them to cling to their neighbor, pushing them to submerge, sputter and gasp.  Exhaustion, chaos and hopelessness hovered over the waters like a mist, obscuring the small points of light that seeped out from around the boarded windows of the nearby city on a hill.  The city on a hill—a beacon of hope to those drowning, contained behind windows shuttered with fear. Lord, we see chaos all around us —man’s inhumanity to man— fear, anxiet
Read more

Paul’s Handkerchief Prayer

Image
Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6 Lord, we don’t have to be the only one in a room to feel alone.  We can be in a coliseum full of people and still feel lonely.  We feel alone in our skin.  You encourage us to not forsake meeting together as a church (Hebrews 10:25), but it is the internal companionship that keeps us from feeling loneliness in that packed coliseum. Father, I lift my friend.  Your Word says that where two or more are gathered in Your Name, You are there in the midst of them.  So Lord, as in Acts 19:12 when Paul sent a blessed handkerchief to the sick and they were healed, likewise, across time and space I take hands with Your precious child.  Together we bow before You and admit we need You.  We invite Your presence.  If they feel lonely or alone today, in their life or in
Read more

Beauty Among the Ashes

Image
Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!   “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that   I would see the goodness of the Lord in  the land of the living.   Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,   And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” - Psalm 27:13-14 Father, we thank You that with You all things are possible.  All around us there are financial troubles, poverty, disease, depression, anxiety, divorces, confusion, disappointment, illness, loss, pain and grief.  The list goes on and on.  People are suffering, Father, and are clinging to the last vestiges of hope.   Lord, I lift up my friend.  You know precisely what weighs on their mind today, and which troubling thoughts strike fear in their heart.  Long seasons of struggle bring with them weariness and discouragement.  I cry out to You on their behalf, Lord.  You are able.  We ask for miracles.  Nothing is too difficult for You.  We ask that You take what the enemy intended for evil
Read more