Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
The further I walk down the path of life the more I see that life doesn’t always follow my plans. My life is messier and less strategic than what I thought it would be. But in an odd sort of way that is what makes life colorful and interesting. God is always working a much better plan for us (Ephesians 3:20).
The fact that life is unpredictable is magnified when you go on a mission trip. You have very little control of some of the most basic aspects of life such as meals and daily schedule. The moment I leave my house to board the plane I make the choice to embrace and not fight the surprises and randomness that seem to surround my every move. My goal is to embrace and enjoy every moment.
In order for me to do that I must get a handle on what God is doing in my heart as everything pertaining to my life flows out of my heart (Prov. 4:23). I may not have control over what’s going on around me, but I do have some say so over what’s going on inside of me. I get to make the decisions concerning my attitude, cooperation, expectation and so on. If I expect to impact the world around me my inside world must be yielded to the Holy Spirit.
I find Ecclesiastes 3:1 to be helpful. “There is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” The four natural seasons reveal how God works in the heart of man (Rom.1: 20). Just as the natural seasons have a purpose for the earth so it is with the spiritual seasons in our lives. God uses each season to develop differing aspects of the image of Christ in us more fully. His goal is for each of us to be a complete and well-rounded person in Christ (Col. 1:28).
1. In Winter you get to know Christ’s humanity. Jesus suffered as a man on this earth. It feels like a low period in your life, a time of trial, suffering, waiting, tears, and pruning. Spiritually you may feel left out, forgotten, rejected and you tend to feel like a failure. The things of the Spirit do not seem as real and alive. You may be tempted to give up, find fault and become resentful and critical. Compromise seems more inviting.
2. In Spring you get to know Christ as the Heavenly Man. Everything comes alive. It is a time of visitation spiritually. It is marked by revelation, a sense of expectation, spiritual insight and growth. Worship and prayer come easy. You feel encouraged therefore you are easier to be around. Yet spring has its dangers. It is easy to become presumptuous and arrogant. You tend to criticize those not as blessed forgetting the season of grace you are in.
3. In Summer you get to know Christ as King. It is a fruitful time in your life. Boldness, confidence, faith, authority and power mark it. You are being enabled to rule and reign with Him. It is a time to do the business of the Kingdom. It is a time when you will see the fruit of sowing toward your purpose and vision. Summer also has its dangers such as overconfidence, pride, overworking, wrong priorities and misusing others.
4. In Fall you get to know Christ as a Servant. Submission, sacrifice and faithful service is what God is doing in your life during this season. You have experienced the bleakness of winter, the renewal of spring and fruit of summer. Now it is time to simply serve others as Christ served you. Life is less about your calling, purpose and vision and more about His.
Whether it is a mission trip, ministry, our daily lives or dealing with the shifting and changes that are occurring around us let’s make it our goal to embrace what the Holy Spirit is doing and enjoy the ride.
Many Blessings, BW