INTRODUCTION: ‘TIS THE SEASON: WINTER- PREPARATION/PROVISION/PROGRESSION/PROCLAMATION
SCRIPTURES:
PSALM 1:3 (KJV)- “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
PSALM 103:1-5 (NLT)- “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles!
6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
This verse tells us that we have to be planted and rooted so that we can produce. Look at what it says that I will produce fruit in my season to bear fruit. God is trying to tell you that no matter what season you are in when it’s your time, nothing can stop what He has produced. My brothers and sisters none of us can escape spiritual winters and we don’t know when they will come but we can prepare for them. Notice I said them because they will keep coming.
This season is about us seeing God do the impossible on the inside of us, we can’t see the roots (faith) but we are trusting the process. We have to do our part, Preparing and Proclaiming, and God will do the Providing and Progressing. Y’all, there are so many people we know who are going through different seasons than we are, they may be in the season of reaping, rejoicing and reproducing and we may question God about the season we are in: why me, why now, or why this? Just remember God knows what it will take to make your roots grow wide and deep ( he knows what it’s going to take to get you through this winter season).
LESSONS IN MY WINTER SEASONS:
1. I must learn to accept and receive in the winter season whatever God wants to do in my life. I have learned not to hurry thru but am surrendering and appreciating what God is doing on the inside of me. God is maturing me, I am seeing and feeling the progress. Aren’t you?
2. I am looking forward to the new opportunities for God to use me and trusting God even more. He is giving me more even when on the outside my situation may be looking bleak and barren.
3. My winter has been about talking to God about my future, and His desires for me (my dreams, my weakness, my failures, my sins, my heartaches) I’m letting Him cultivate them the way they should be so I am ready for my next winter season.
4. I realized that my dormancy has been necessary for growth and my future fruit (it is the type of rest that winter forces on you) It has to happen before I have fruit that will last. I am learning to ask and use wisdom in my winter and just invite it in as a guest (it comes unexpectedly but it doesn't stay forever).
5. My winter season has been so much better since I walk and not run in it, I am realizing that God is truly more than enough and He is always with me and gives me exactly what I need.
6. I am learning that if I use this season wisely, resting, sharpen my tools (faith), changing my diet, and bad habits. It has not been difficult, out of control, or a hopeless situation. I have been reflecting on what God has brought me through and His faithfulness in my past winters and I can be assured that He will continue to walk with me.
Please continue to listen every 1st Thursday of the month to TOUCHED BY MERCY & LIVING ON GRACE PODCAST.
Remember my sisters and brothers, it takes GRACE TO MAKE IT!
Remember my sisters and brothers, it takes GRACE TO MAKE IT!