Word of the Day
Beloved, there are many soils of time. There are many seeds to be planted and many seasons of life to navigate. Each one is equally important and in need of specific revelation or manna in order to move on. Each field which needs to be cleared in preparation, each soil in need of sanctification, each season in need of understanding are meant to be habitations to many varieties of plants. From the seasonal, which we discussed, to the perennial, the evergreen, the clinging vine and so many more. Natural things I have created are the bearers of eternal truths. Natural things have knowledge and great truths to share if only they are allowed to do so (Jeremiah 8:7 Amplified).
There are times I plant you in seasonal ways with the full knowledge that what I have called you do in the moment…the season might or might not ever happen again. I may only need for you to produce apples, so to speak, only once in your lifetime in order to benefit another or learn some valuable truth about who I am and who you are in Me. However, there are perennial or reoccurring and established aspects of who I created you to be that will flourish throughout your life. Some will function all the time and some will flow in and out like seasons to produce more and better fruit as time goes by. Like good wine, these perennial aspects will increase with time and revelation.
Perennial means to be permanent, recurrent, perpetual, constant, lasting and persistent. Seasonal plants, for the most part, only last one growing season where perennials last two or indefinite periods of time. The key with perennials is to understand, depending on climate and seasons, they can either stay visibly green or appear to die. When perennials give the appearance of dying they can often be confused with the “seasonal plants” and times of life.
Beloved, if there is no understanding or discernment into the times and seasons…if there is no understanding as to the value of winter or going underground for a time…discouragement and disappointment can cause the forsaking of a soon to be emergent beauty born out of being more deeply rooted in Me. Winter is good for the perennial giftings I have given you.
Often times when the surety of who I have called you to be gets a little brown around the edges or looses luster and beauty all together what do you do? Do you believe I have called you according to My purposes and in complete love and acceptance from the foundations of the world?
When winter arrives and you see no fruit on the vine, do you still believe you are rooted in the eternal? Beloved, You are rooted and grounded in Me, the eternal Christ…the eternal Seed and no matter if you have brown edges…no matter if you have no leaves at all, or have been pruned back to the very earth that holds you, I am still your foundation…I am still the root of your life. Seasons come and go…appointed times come and go…this you must be sure of, but I do not come and go. Remember this, when one perennial gifting of your life seems dormant, there is another waiting to spring forth. Have faith for you are growing deep in Me the Eternal Root.
For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently (Colossians 1:19 Amplified)
They will perish, but You remain and continue permanently; they will all grow old and wear out like a garment (Hebrews 1:11 Amplified)
Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]? (1 Corinthians 3:16 Amplified)
May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, (Ephesians 3:17 Amplified)
Prayer
Father, I thank You for the understanding You give me by the Spirit as I meditate on Your word. For truly there are many seeds to be planted in a variety of soils. It is my desire to bring forth 100 fold fruit in my life to bless You Lord according to the potential seeded in me. As I am growing and the good seeds in my heart multiply, I will plant seeds in the soil of others.
Lord, it is my deepest heart’s desire to bless You in all I do and say. I acknowledge there will be times when I experience seasonal things only once to never occur again. At other times I will experience things on a continual basis to help others and I grow in different ways.
Help me to be patient and understand, depending on the climate and seasons, what may appear to be dead may in fact be very alive…alive and waiting for the right moment to emerge in beautiful shades of green.
Thank You for the understanding and discernment about the times and seasons occurring in my life. I declare that I will not grow weary or disappointed in doing good. I will not faint because I know You never forsake me. Although seasons come and go, and appointed times come and go, I am one who praises You with my whole heart. You, Lord, do not come and go. You never leave me nor forsake me, my ever present God. Amen.
Reflect and Journal
1. There are times God will plant you in a seasonal way, that when it is time to be moved can be confusing or even fearful. Reflect on your tests of faith during those seasons and write what transitions you experienced as you were moved from one season to another.
2. Describe certain areas where you can see that you were in temporary season versus an on-going season in your life. In other words God gave you unction for something that needed to be done in the moment and not perpetually.
3. How can you increase your understanding and discernment concerning the times and seasons in your life to help you during times of discouragement?
4. What do you do when the winter time arrives and it seems you have no fruit on the vine? Write down some scriptures that relate to the seasons in life as well as scriptures that remind you of God’s faithfulness. Don’t be weary in doing good, for you will reap in due season if you faint not.
Thank You!