The Importance of Seasons (Part V)

I shared in the last devotional that as we go through different seasons, we don’t know exactly how the harvest will look like. What we we know is that God has promised a harvest of righteousness for those who live/walk through various seasons according to His plan.

Raising children is one of the areas that the harvest cannot easily be determined. Every Christian family makes their own decisions on how to raise their family.  Hopefully, they are all seeking the Lord as they raise their children. However, the harvest will look different in each child’s life and from what parents imagined.  One of the big variables is that children develop their own minds, free will, and emotions, and, as a result, they form their own path. Our part is raising them to adulthood according to God’s instructions, but we’re not responsible for the choices they make as adults. 

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

The above scripture is a reminder that raising children is seasonal.  We plant the seeds of faith by reading the Bible to them, taking them to church, and praying for them. We raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord and introducing them to Jesus. In addition, at the natural level, we are called to hold them accountable and allow them to see the consequences of their actions. We also set the example by living a life of diligence and taking responsibility for our choices. This kind of lifestyle allows the years of childrearing to be used wisely and effectively. When the children become teenagers, they strive to make their own decisions, and to some degree, we need to let them. Eventually, when they become adults, they have the responsibility to take ownership of their faith. This may take a few years, but the parents are not in control of it anymore.

The problem is that sometimes parents think that they are responsible for their adult children to be spiritually connected to the Lord. The truth is that our season of responsibility is over, and we need to make the necessary adjustments. The adult children need to be encouraged to pray for themselves and not to expect parents to just pray for them. We should also point them to the Bible to find the direction they are seeking and refrain from offering our counsel to them.  As long as, we are taking care of their spiritual needs, they will not develop an appetite for God, and we become enablers in their arrested development. The adult children will have to go through their own seasons of faith, and we can’t rescue them from their spiritual fall and winter seasons. When we are willing to show courage and set boundaries for our children while young, we enable them to set boundaries for themselves when they become adults.

When we were raising teenagers, I would hear how some Moms were their children’s best friends. However, I chose not to go that route. I was willing to go through choppy waters and not be afraid of the displeasure of my children. Now it is clear that those kinds of relationships did not produce good fruit in the friends’ lives. I am very thankful that I did not give in to the voice of the culture and the peer pressure!

If your adult children are not walking with the Lord, continue to pray for them that God would intersect their lives. If there was negligence or sin on your part while raising them, ask the Lord for forgiveness and, when appropriate, ask your children for their forgiveness. In addition, cut off ungodly soulish ties with your children that hinders them to be free to seek truth without your pressure. Forgiveness and cutting off soulish ties shuts the door to the enemy to play with your mind and emotions and his attempts to torment you about your children’s choices. Continue to surrender them to the Lord and speak words of life that calls them to a higher place!

If you are a parent of children at home, are you courageous to do the hard work to raise them in His ways? If you are a parent of adult children, have you accepted the fact that your children’s spiritual wellbeing is no longer your responsibility?

The Importance of Seasons (Part IV)

God’s seasons are necessary at the natural and the spiritual level. The different seasons prepare the way for good harvest to come forth at the right time. If we have done things God’s way, sooner or later there will be a harvest of righteousness waiting for us.

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion ovecr the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

The Lord designed us with a desire to build, multiply, and increase. God gave the mandate to Adam and Eve to multiply and subdue the earth. This increase and multiplication covered every area of  life, and it included both our natural and spiritual lives. For example, we seek to grow and develop our relationship with the Lord. We also want to develop healthy and loving relationships with others. We desire to have a healthy marriage and raise Godly and responsible children. We aim to prosper financially and hope our hard work will pay off, so we can save for our retirement, give generously, and enjoy what the Lord has blessed us with. We also want to be fruitful in ministry in reaching others for Jesus and helping the believers to get stronger in their walk with God.

All these areas demand hard work and long seasons of faithfulness. They require us to be in tune with the Lord about those things that no longer serve a good purpose and allow them to be cut off in the fall and winter seasons. We also need to pay close attention to His word and grow our roots deep in Him, so we can flourish in the seasons to come. Eventually, when the season for plowing and planting comes, we are called to do them with diligence and seek His wisdom in every area of our lives.

Do we know how the harvest will look like? Not really.  There is no defined harvest that we all can expect. The harvest will look different for all of us, and it will not necessarily be what we imagined it to be. In addition, it will show up on God’s timetable not ours! What we know is that God provides a harvest of righteousness for those who follow Him (See 2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV).

One of the areas that the harvest is not clear is raising children to adulthood. I will share on  that subject in the next devotional.

The Importance of Seasons (Part III)

God’s seasons are valuable to the earth and to our spiritual wellbeing. As I shared in the last devotional, during fall and winter the plant sheds all its beauty and becomes doormat. Similarly, fall and winter cause believers to slow down from busyness and activities. This is the season that they need to dedicate more time in seeking the Lord and in growing deeper in Him. 

As the spring comes along, the activities being to change. Farmers begin to plow, sow seeds, and to nurture what has been planted. These are critical actions in preparation and expectation of the harvest in the next season.

Give ear and hear my voice,
Listen and hear my speech.
Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow?
Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?
25 When he has leveled its surface,
Does he not sow the black cummin
And scatter the cummin,
Plant the wheat in rows,
The barley in the appointed place,
And the spelt in its place?
26 For He instructs him in right judgment,
His God teaches him. Isaiah 28:23-26

The above scripture describes the process that a plowman goes through to plant various seeds. At first, he has to plow the field to get it ready to be sown. In addition, each seed has its proper place and way to be sown. All of this comes from the Lord’s instruction in helping the plowman to judge and assess accurately what each plant needs.

Spiritually speaking, God gives His children the wisdom to make the necessary preparations and plans in the appropriate seasons. The season of preparation will look different for every person. God knows our abilities and personalities, and He also knows what is needed for us to be prepared. Some may require more work than others because of their history, unbelief, stubbornness, or their particular calling. Nevertheless, God is still after a harvest in each of our lives. 

Moses tended his father-in-law’s sheep for forty years before God spoke to him about his assignment as the deliverer of His people. David was being prepared for over a decade before God allowed him to be the King of Israel. Joseph had a few winters and springs before the Lord opened the door for him to become a ruler in Egypt at age 30. Jesus was being prepared for 30 years before the Lord directed Him to begin His ministry. 

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due  season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9

Are you faithfully plowing, planting, and nurturing in your spring season? The season of preparation may feel like a lot of work with not much reward.  At times, we may not even know what we are preparing for. The truth is that this season will not last forever. God promises that when we do good and do our work unto Him, we will reach the season of harvest.

Encourage yourself in the Lord and regain your strength in Him. Trust Him that the harvest is coming. Our part is to continue to do good, to not quit, and keep looking unto Jesus. We do not want to reach the reward with our own strength and ingenuity. The harvest is not our responsibility. The Lord is the rewarder, and He shall bring it to pass!

The Importance of Seasons (Part II)

God’s seasons have profound physical and spiritual ramifications. The more in tune we are with the season that we are in, the better aligned we are with God’s purpose and the less frustrated with our state in life!

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:1-4

In our success-oriented culture, we love and aspire to be like those who can do it all without slowing down a bit in life. However, when we look at the nature, God has designed it that even the earth takes a break. In Fall and winter, the vegetation goes into quiet existence. It stops producing new leaves, fruit, or flowers.  There is even the loss of dead and diseased leaves. In addition, Gardeners use this time to prune dead or useless branches. Those leaves and branches had a purpose in the past seasons, but they are no longer beneficial.

Similarly, we go through fall and winter seasons with God. He examines our branches as an expert gardener, and He knows what has not been fruitful in our lives. He cuts off those unfruitful branches. He also cuts off the branches that have had some fruit, but he prunes them to bear more fruit. 

Are you willing to slow down and allow God to speak to you about what needs change in your life?  The Lord will bring to our attention those things that have become diseased in our lives and have caused emotional, mental, or physical baggage. It is time to shed everything that impacts our spiritual health and wellbeing. It is time for God to prune those things, in order for new life to grow. We cannot hold on to the past but expect new and fresh growth. 

What is God speaking to you about the branches that have become diseased or unfruitful? Are you willing to look bare and give up those branches? Can you say “no” to relationships or activities that have not produced good results without the fear of feeling lonely? Who do you need to forgive so you can cut off the bitterness in your heart? Can you live without the need to impress others, so God can do a deeper work in you? Are you willing to cut off murmuring, complaining, and gossip and trust God’s work in your circumstances?

If we are believing God for better things in the future, this is our opportunity to believe God’s good purpose in our particular season and not be afraid of the change that it requires. I will continue with this subject in the next devotional. 

The Importance of Seasons (Part I)

I love how God created a natural system that in many ways reflects His workings in the spiritual. The natural world is faced with different seasons, and each season accomplishes a purpose on the earth. Similarly, God uses seasons in our lives to develop us and to fulfill His purpose on the earth. 

In the old days, people were more in tune with seasons because their lives and livelihood depended on it. My grandparents owned vineyards and orchards, and where they lived enjoyed having all the four seasons. They planned out their particular activities based on the upcoming seasons. During winter when they had heavy snow, there was not much outside work to do with for my grandfather. However, when the season changed, he would begin to work in the fields along with his laborers. During harvest, my grandparents would move from the city to the village to be closer to their crop. My grandmother would use the bounty in summer to prepare fresh meals for the family. At the same time, she made pickles, preserves, cheeses, and she canned vegetables in preparation for the upcoming winter. 

Nowadays, most people do not work on farms and their lives do not depend on local farms. We can have any produce we wish at any time of the year. We also go to a 9-5 job, which generally its nature does not change from one season to another, so we have a different mindset about life and seasons. We think that whenever we want something from God, it must be the right time to have it. When we don’t get it, we become disappointed and disillusioned with God and with our walk with God.

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; Genesis 1:14

Seasons are God’s creation, and the Lord uses them to speak to us and to teach us about His ways. At any one time, the earth is going through two very distinct seasons. If the Northern Hemisphere is closer to the sun, it is going through its spring and summer. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is going through its fall and winter season.  Similarly, People around us may be in a different season than we are. That’s why Paul said that comparing ourselves to others is not wise!

God uses seasons for propagation in the life of animals and vegetation, and He also uses them to make us fruitful! We need to be in tune with our seasons and make necessary preparations for the upcoming season. Spend sometime in the Word and in prayer and ask the Lord to show you about the season that you are in.

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional. 

Paul’s Prayers & Declarations

As an apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul had a passion for God’s people to come into greater knowledge of the Lord and understand their position in the Kingdom of God. He regularly instructed the believers in the truth that God had revealed to him, and at times, he corrected the churches for some of the false teachings or practice. In addition to all the teachings and exhortations, Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus contains powerful declarations and prayers that we can use in our devotional time!

As we begin the New year, let’s pray some of these scriptures and invite the Lord to take us to deeper places of intimacy and growth in Him. We all know that there are deeper places to go with God, but sometimes we don’t know how to get there. We also recognize that those around us need a deeper revelation of God and greater freedom in Christ. Below is Paul’s prayer for the people in the church of Ephesus. This is a good prayer to pray over ourselves, family, friends, pastors, other believers, or even backslidden believers.

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,  do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power  which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-22

Currently, the body of Christ is struggling with lack of Bible knowledge, false doctrine, distractions, disunity, and relational issues, and we need to pray for the body to grow in maturity, in unity, and in strength. It is easy to criticize a church for its shortcomings since there is always room for growth and transformation in every congregation. However, we should lift up our churches in prayer and ask the Lord to change and grow them in His ways.

Below scriptures were penned by Paul to explain how God intended to establish and grow the body of Christ. Those with the gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastors, and teachers are called to fully operate in their calling and gifting. If the people of God utilize their gifting with a pure heart, with no selfish ambition, and no fear of man, the body of Christ has the potential to grow in health and strength. Use below scriptures as a declaration to pray over your church and the body of Christ as a whole.

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:7-16

Unto Us a Child is Born…(Part II)

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

I shared in the last devotional that Christmas is not the end of the story but the beginning of Jesus’ life and ministry on the earth. The Messiah came in the form of a baby, but He grew up to become all that God intended Him to be to save humanity from sin and lead us back to God. Christmas is not puzzling but powerful! Jesus’ attributes in the above verse are important truths in what we have in our Messiah. Below is a continuation of those attributes from the last devotional.

Mighty God

Jesus was with the father from the beginning. We look to Jesus as Mighty God who rules the universe, and that everything in heaven and earth belongs to Him. We understand that we are only stewards of our time, temple, treasure, and talents that He has given to us by His mighty hand. His awesome might causes us to have the fear of the Lord, and it gives us the conviction to do all our ministry and our work heartily as unto the Lord. He is the one we serve regardless of who we work for.

God separated the Red Sea with His mighty hand and made a way for the Israelites in a hopeless and unnerving situation. We also trust His mighty hand for our protection and for making a way where there doesn’t seem to be a way. He is powerful and capable to be our provider and protector. Do you believe that He is mighty in your situations of life? Do you recognize that His supernatural power provides you with everything you need for life and godliness?

Everlasting Father

Jesus came as the representation of the father to show us the way back to God. He came to redeem us from being orphans in this world and adopt us into His family. There are many people who have come from dysfunctional homes and have never felt wanted, valuable, or included. The good news is that with Jesus entering our world, He reversed every form of rejection and reconciled us to our heavenly father who never leaves us nor forsake us. We have an everlasting Father who is with us always! Have you been delivered from an orphan spirit? Do you still go into self-preservation mode whenever you feel an opposition? Are you on the road to thriving in God?

Prince of Peace

Jesus came full of peace! His identity and security was unshakable because he did not look to those around Him to validate what God had already spoken to Him. His security allowed Him to not take the bait of the enemy. Hence, He did not open the door to torment, guilt, or shame. Jesus came full of truth and grace. When lies are absent and the truth and the grace of God prevails in our lives, peace is ushered in.

In ministering to people, I found that when they recognize God’s truth and love and understand the lies of the enemy, it leads them to repentance. This breaks the chains of oppression, delivers them from torment, and their world becomes so peaceful! Jesus’ offer of peace is available to every weary soul. He invites us to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us! Are you able to guard the peace of God and enjoy His rest in your life?

As we begin the new year, let’s consider all of Jesus’ attributes that make our lives rich, powerful, and meaningful. Pray and press into God in the areas that you desire a greater level of victory. Ask Him for what you need and patiently wait for Him. Allow the Lord to show you and change you from the inside out. Remain teachable and accept the dealings of God to change your life and your perspective.

Unto Us a Child is Born… (Part I)

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Our culture has a tendency to focus on baby Jesus laying in a manger, Santa, and gift-giving. We decorate our homes and send cards with various sentiments about peace and joy to the world! Then when Christmas passes, people don’t want to talk about Jesus anymore! However, Christmas is just the beginning of God’s redemptive love story. For unto us a child was born, but that child became an adult with the purpose of saving the world! The baby Jesus came to unfold God’s plan of salvation for humanity and to bring God’s kingdom and the joy and peace we so readily talk about.

Prior to the coming of Christ, His birth was prophesied hundreds of years earlier by various prophets. While many kingdoms and empires rose and toppled down, God had a different answer for government and human needs. The above scripture tells us about the attributes that the Messiah was going to have that were going to be answers for people’s yearnings. Let’s remind ourselves of these attributes that made Jesus our Lord and Savior! 

Government will be upon His shoulder

God placed every form government upon Jesus’ shoulder. Jesus is the foundation of every good government. The basis of God’s truth and righteousness creates a stable and strong foundation for self-government, family government, church government, and civil government. Jesus showed the highest form of government with His unwavering leadership, His reverence for God, His sinless life, His truthful and compassionate ministry, and His sacrificial death! If we all look to Jesus as our example of governance, our homes and our society will change dramatically. Where do you seek answers for good government? Are you self-governing? Do you govern your thoughts, emotions, words, and actions? 

Wonderful

Jesus is Wonderful, and He is marvelous! He continued to do signs and wonders that made people hungry and thirsty for more of God and His kingdom. He also astonished the religious people with His answers. His compassion for people was deep and His passion for God was unshakable and unwavering. Are you at awe of your God? Have His wonders touched your life?

Counselor

Jesus is our Counselor. He is the one who gives us wisdom for every situation and dilemma. King Solomon was known for his wisdom because God had blessed him with great measure of wisdom. We cannot solve our problems without the wisdom of God. The further away people are from God, the more they look to human reasoning and half-baked ideas to solve humanity’s issues. The solutions may temporarily work but ultimately they have major consequences. Jesus is the best counselor who gives us insight, comfort, conviction, and instruction for every situation in life. God is in the business of helping His children, and He does not leave them as orphans in this world. Is He your counselor? Who do you go to first, when you are in need of counsel?

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.

Mary & Joseph on Journey of Faith

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,  and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2:13-15

When the wise men found Jesus and his parents, they worshipped him for being the King of the Jews. However, things changed shortly after their departure. Since they did not return to Herod, Herod decided it was best to kill all the baby boys under the age of two to eliminate the possibility of someone claiming to be the king of the Jews.

Joseph had a dream that he should take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape the massacre of children. Mary and Joseph could not just settle down and enjoy their married lives. They had to learn to live by God’s voice and walk the journey of faith with Him! 

Moving in those days would have been uncommon since most people lived and worked where they grew up. People did not move for fun, for college education, or for a better job opportunity. They moved either because of a necessity or because God had told them to move. Mary and Joseph had to leave their natural families behind and go to a foreign country. They did not know how long their trip was going to last. They only knew that they had to obey God and protect Jesus!

God’s promises require our stewardship of listening to His instructions every step of the way and protecting that which He has already given us. God does the growing and nurturing, and we do our part in seeing God’s promises fulfilled!

Mary and Joseph remained very flexible and did not ask the Lord any questions. They only followed His instructions. Those steps that God was giving them must have been difficult and inconvenient, but they did not complain. Interestingly, God was fulfilling His purpose every step of the way and was bringing to pass the prophesies spoken about the Messiah in the Old Testament. Even though Jesus was already born, Mary and Joseph had a long way to go on their journey of faith to see the fulfillment of God’s purpose in Jesus’ life!

How are you protecting the seed of God’s promise? Is the promise in the danger of being eliminated by the enemy or by the naysayers? Is God asking you to move or change something in your circumstances? Are you reluctant to move out of your comfort zone? Are you asking lots of questions and arguing with God rather than just stepping into the unknown? Are you willing to remain flexible with God?

Carve out sometime during this season of the year and spend time alone with God. Put aside your opinions of how you want your life to look like and allow Him to show you the path and direct your steps!

Mary’s Humble Perspective

And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.” Luke 1:46-55

When Mary received the word of the Lord and became pregnant with God’s son, she humbly praised God! She was thankful that God had chosen her, and she rejoiced in God’s salvation. While visiting Elizabeth her cousin, Mary prophetically began to speak about the fact that future generations were going to be blessed with the birth of her son. She remembered the Lord’s faithfulness towards Israel and that He was bringing into fruition what the Lord had spoken to Abraham long ago.

This was the beginning of Mary’s journey in her pregnancy, and God gave her a word to proclaim to herself, to Elizabeth, and to those around her about God’s plan for humanity. Mary’s expectations were focused on God’s purpose and promise.

Mary did not focus on herself and how God’s plan would benefit her. She did not create any ungodly expectations about what that could mean for her finances, her status in life, or her role as Jesus’ mother on the earth. She did not try to figure out what would Jesus have to do to be considered the Savior of the world and her responsibility as His mother. She saw herself as a conduit for God’s purpose coming to earth. The scripture does not tell us that Mary and Joseph had to train or raise Jesus differently from their other children. They just simply believed God and lived life as a faithful Jewish couple, and God took care of preparing Jesus for His awesome task!

It is important for all of us to write down what God has spoken to us and to focus on God’s plan through the promise. The promise that God speaks to us will not only bring about a blessing into our lives, but it will also be a vehicle to bless others. The Lord does not expect us to interject our plan or ingenuity, neither does He want us to get stressed about how it will work out. He only expects our surrender to the process. That shift of mindset can bring about a huge relief from the stress and anxiety of helping God or feeling like we have to make something happen.

When things are not in our control, they can produce anxiety in our lives. Are you stressed about something that you feel you have no control over? Have you heard the Lord about it? If you have a direction from God, write it down, surrender yourself to God’s process, and fight with the word that the Lord has spoken to you until you find rest for your soul. If the Lord has not given you specific direction, continue to ask, seek, and knock. It could be that God desires to reveal Himself to you in a new way. God’s revelation brings clarity and dissolves anxiety. Let’s bind the spirit of anxiety in the name of Jesus and live in a position of praise and thankfulness today.