Times and Seasons

Let’s rewind back to Friday morning, it was 02.12.16.  I was walking to the tube station for work and as usual I had a number of thoughts going through my head.

3 significant events occurred that morning which got me thinking more.   

 

1.   I was going through an Instastory of a friend.  I saw that she was at an interesting location, so I sent her a message saying, ‘Well done’. Instantly, she dismissed the well done and responded, ‘no a colleague invited me to that event.  But amen, I receive the prophesy.’ 
I went on to remind her that ‘lucky breaks’ are the fruit of our labour; because we consistently work hard, we are prepared for the break when it is presented to us. I explained that I was actually congratulating her for the consistent hard work and effort I’ve noticed.

2.   I was looking through my WhatsApp contacts and my God-sister had this image up which read:

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‘Dear God, restore to me everything that I lost and messed up due to my immaturity’. 

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Interesting, I thought. How many things have I mishandled due to my immaturity and lack of wisdom?  How many things have I let slide because I was too inexperienced to reach out and grab it?

 

3.   As I sat down on the train, I read the Word for Today, which reported the story of wise ants (Full story can be found in Proverbs 6:6-8).  Ants prepare in the summer, while they have resources (light, warmth) for a time when things will be much harder (shorter days to work, colder and darker nights).  They are wise because they understand times and seasons.  They realise the necessary time to work, and the appropriate time to relax and play.  The writer of that text was really highlighting the importance of preparation.  He bluntly expressed life is not a dress rehearsal, so you don’t get a second chance.  You either make it work the first time round or have a poor quality show, which is true.

 

He posed these questions which resonated with me:

‘If God gave you everything you’re praying for right now, would you be ready to handle it?

Nothing great is created suddenly; success doesn’t occur overnight. And neither does failure. Each is a process.

The fact is, every day of your life is preparation for the next.

 So the question is what are you preparing for, and how are you preparing? Are you grooming yourself for success or failure?’

 

Now fast forward to today. I have just got off a nearly 2 hour conversation with a friend.  During this conversation we briefly spoke about the appropriate times and seasons to do certain things.  She reminded me of ‘the good things’ in life which we deprive ourselves of having because we have not tapped into the opportunities of the time and season.

I’m sure most of us have heard preachers in Church say ‘This is your time!’  This is your season! These phrases slightly erk me, because it’s so overused and soo cliché.  People say it all the time and more people are quicker to shout Amen, without realising what they are agreeing to.

 

I sat and asked myself:

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Do you actually understand times and seasons of your life? 

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I answered myself: ‘I don’t’

Because if I did I would be doing things very differently to the way I am.  My speech, mindset and actions will all reflect my time and season. 

For example, if I was pregnant with child, pregnancy would be the season I was in, right? All I do would be a reflection of that season.  The things I spoke about would probably be baby related. I would probably start speaking to others that are pregnant or have recently given birth to glean information and advice. My mindset would be geared towards motherhood. My actions would probably include buying baby things, getting my house ready for the new baby etc.    

Now, the time- would be when I give birth.  The delivery date.  The moment the baby comes out.

The time is when the season has fully manifested; this peak is the specific point that marks the end of one season and the beginning of another.

 

Moving forward….

1.     I need to analyse my life to identify what is going on.  These happenings should indicate the season I am in. 

 

When the leaves turn brown we know it’s autumn.

When the fields turn white we know its winter. 

What are the things happening in my life?

What signs can I see?

2.     I need to understand what this season means.  When it is spring we SEE the flowers.  But what does this mean? It means growth, new life because the sun gives us longer and warmer days and plants need this sunlight and the showers of rain in order to grow.  Which means this is the time of new things – new blooms, even new baby animals – because they have longer and warmer days to find food which helps survival.

‘To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…’ 

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

 

When you know and understand the times and seasons of your life, you can work accordingly.

December is such a great month to do this stock take. I’m sure most of us are excited for Christmas and expectant for the New Year, but let’s not wait for January 1st to make the necessary changes.

 

• Do not let immaturity rob you of something great.

• Do not let being ill prepared rob you of your next big breakthrough.

• Do not let insensitivity to the times and seasons rob you of your next big opportunity.

Let’s learn from the wisdom of the ant and prepare in this season for the next.

Happy new month!

In truth and in love

Faith xox