Seasons - Daily devotional April 16th, 2010

Bible Reading - Leviticus 20, Psalm 25, Ecclesiastes 3, 1 Timothy 5

Seasons

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Although I live in San Diego where everyone believes it is eternally summer I have come to notice the seasonal changes that we experience in this beautiful city. I have lived in several other places so I recognized that the seasonal changes are not as extreme as they are in other places (thank God) but there are changes none the less. I am not positive when the seasonal calendar was created but I am sure it was created based on the changes people saw and felt. Now that the seasonal calendar is created what we see and feel does not matter, if the calendar says it is spring than it is spring or if it says its is winter than it is winter.

The calendar principle is not only true of the seasonal changes in the climate but it is also true of the seasons in our life. Acts 17:26 states, "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place". Psalm 139:16 says, "in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them". These verses and the one in Ecclesiastes are all telling me the same thing. There are seasons in my life and God has a calendar for us that lays out the seasons. Just like the seasonal changes in the natural are not based on what we see and feel, neither are the seasons that God has for us. We must be people that are wise and know the calender and time table of God so that we can step into those right seasons with full confidence.

Knowing we can not base the seasons on what we feel or see brings to my mind 2 Corinthians 5:7, "...we walk by faith, not by sight". I must walk by my faith in Christ Jesus and His word because, "feelings come and feelings go and feelings are deceiving but nothing other than the word of God is ever worth believing". In the world of clothing if we were to base our wardrobe on the daily weather (especially this year) we would be all over the map. For designers this is not the case however. Sure you can wear a coat when you are cold but the over all look and style changes from season to season and this is based on the calendar, not the weather. When it comes to life if we changed our approach to it everyday based on how we felt we would be all over the map also. For example I am in a season of marriage (which I love! my wife is amazing). If I woke up one morning mad at my wife for something and didn't feel like being married and decided to live a season of singleness that day there would be some serious issues and consequences (did I mention my wife is really strong too). If I lived like this I would be a wreck and therefore I must listen to God, know the season I am in and walk by faith not by my feelings or sight (love you baby).

Today as you are living your life do not base it on what you feel or see. Do not let you emotions get the better of you. You need to stop pull out your Bible, read it, spend some time and prayer and let Him show you the calendar. The season will change so do not get frustrated with the one you are in. There is a saying on the wall in my doctors office that says, "if we do not learn to ride the waves of the storms in life, we will be overcome by them". If you are in a stormy season just learn to ride the waves.

There really is a season and a time for everything in your life. What season are you in and are you ready for it?

Tomorrows Bible reading - Leviticus 21, Psalm 26, Psalm 27, Ecclesiastes 4, 1 Timothy 6

Dream Big
Ben