What Season Are You In?

I know a lot of people who don't really care for the winter months. If you live around where I live it can tend to mean that life outside has to pretty much stop for 3 or 4 months. And if you enjoy being outside this can be very hard to accept. Winter represents 3 or 4 very cold and lifeless months that other than getting to either enjoy playing in some snow (or watching your kids play in it), there really isn't a whole lot else to do outside. However, near the end of each winter comes those days where you step outside and it's not quite as cold as it was yesterday. Then you notice that the grass is starting to turn green again. The trees are starting to grow leaves and signs of spring are all around you. Flowers start to bloom and the signs of winter are all but gone. Its seems like it never fails though, winter doesn't like to give up easy. And almost every spring after some thing start to grow again there will be one of those extra cold nights and frost will settle in and try to kill off some of that new growth. People will cover their flowers and do what they can to protect that which has already started to grow. All in and effort to not let the cold kill off the new beauty of spring.

Those seasons I just described very much remind me of our walk with Jesus once we give out lives over to Him. We may not have even realized it, but before Jesus we were stuck in a very cold and lifeless part of life. And when you were living right in the middle of it, you try to make the best of it, just like winter. But once you discover Jesus and you see what "life producing life" feels like, you never want to go back to "being cold" again. John 15:1-17 is a great passage that describes what you life should begin to look like once you start your journey with Christ. And yes I said "begin to look like" because God knows it is a process. He knows that the moment you accept the gift of Jesus Christ in your heart your life doesn't instantly show "fruit". But the longer you walk with Jesus and the more mature you become as a Christian than the more fruit your life should have in it. Like the seasons, starting your walk with Jesus is like the beginning of Spring. You will notice things happening in your life as a result of your new heart and your new way of thinking. Galatians 5:22 give us a "check list" of the fruit that our lives should start to produce. Things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness. All things that Jesus demonstrated for us, and all things that as we stay connected to him (John 15:5) we should begin to walk in as well. But unlike the seasons, when you walk with Jesus and learn to rely on Him, there doesn't have to be another "winter" to come and kill off the good things that have taken root in your life. I'm not saying you won't face hardships, because you will. We live in a sin filled world and because of that things are going to hurt you, try to rob your joy and try to steal your peace. That is the main goal of the enemy. But what I am saying is that when Jesus truly becomes the source of everything listed in Galatians 5:22, then the enemy has no power over removing the God given fruit from your life.

One thing I want to close with......there is a reason we use the term "going through seasons in life". And that is because we can have set backs. However, that is all they should be...a momentary set back. You may be realizing some of the fruit in your life is missing...or even the production of fruit in your life has slowed down. Maybe it's your work in the ministry, fulfilling your God given assignment, your desire to chase after His will or even your ability to witness to others has taken a back seat lately. If any of that describes how you have felt lately, then go into your secret place with God and get honest with Him. It's His desire to get you back on track and show you how loved and necessary you are. The fruit the your one single life can produce has the ability to add to His kingdom in ways we can't even begin to comprehend. We all play and important role in His plan and staying connected to the vine (Jesus), and being a branch the produces fruit, is the best way to allow yourself to be used by God.

God, Thank You for changing our heart and renewing our mind. Thank You that You don't want to leave us where You find us, but bring us out of that cold, dead season of our life and into something new that produces life. Thank You that Your Word promises us that if we abide IN Jesus then He will abide IN us. Help us to fight off the enemy when he attempts to drag us back into the dead parts of our old life and may we rely solely on our relationship with Jesus to help us keep producing good fruit in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.