By Stefanie McGowan
Summer’s ending, and a new season is upon us… are you ready? September starts a new chapter, as we enter the last quarter of 2017.
Are you excited? Burnt out? Coasting? Wishing for new? Have you ran strong this year, following through with goals you’ve set? Have you caved when things got hard?
How are you?
No matter where this day finds you, you and I can be thankful that the Lord moves with us in seasons of change, to grow and shape us into His image.
We can praise God that cold, dark seasons don’t last forever, and neither do dry, desert ones.
That floods, like that of Hurricane Harvey, invading Texas right now – are not forever.
That the smoke hovering over our valley, and the raging fires that surround us… are all temporary.
Seasons fade. Change is inevitable.
New is coming, and a harvest season is upon us!
For many, this year brought about lots of heartache, and it’s easy for our gaze to stop there.
For our focus to shift from the work that God is doing to make all things new, and think we’re stuck in a hard season that will last forever.
Don’t believe that lie.
This life is temporary.
The Lord is making ALL things new. (Revelation 21:5)
These bodies, these circumstances, these trials are fleeting.
The ache we feel as the world vies for our attention, toward war, and threats of war, natural disasters, riots, and movements over wrong made right… These are temporary.
And we are called to stand firm in the truth, to share the Gospel. (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17)
To dig deeper, to move beyond what’s comfortable, and share who God is and what He’s done.
Revelations 12:11 says that we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. Is there a testimony without the testing? Can we really share just how good and powerful and majestic our God is, without experiencing how His power is made perfect in our weakness? (2 Corinthians 12:9)
My friends, we live in crazy times. With seasons that aim to wipe us out, defeat our faith, and crowd out the gospel of Truth. Hold fast. Dig deep.
Grow your roots as you press in to know Jesus through His Word, and share at every opportunity you’re given, just how big and real and good and powerful our God is. Because the harvest is great, but the workers are few.
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:35-38)
No matter where you are, we can press in right now to make a difference for the Kingdom of Heaven in the world right around us. You don’t have to be in the perfect season. Free of mess or chaos, or have goals set out all shiny and new. You don’t have to be halfway across the globe, or in a foreign land for the Lord to use you mightily to share the Good News.
The Lord can use you as you live on mission today, with whatever He’s puts right in front of you, if you’d only say “yes.” What has the Lord put on your heart that you’ve been saying no to? Who does He keep bringing into your life? What’s on repeat from the Holy Spirit?
What’s in your lap? Your view? Who’s right in front of you? That is your community.
It doesn’t have to be across the continent or country to make an impact for Christ. The very world where God has sent you, may be your own backyard, your school, your job.
Maybe not forever, but for this season today- you and I can live on mission for Jesus right where He’s placed us. And you saying yes to God matters! There is an eternal impact for the glory of the Lord that hangs in the balance. Will you receive the blessing of saying yes to God’s call, or will He fulfill His purpose by someone else in some other way? Say yes, sweet friend. Regardless of the season you’re in, say yes.
Today is a blip in time. This life is temporary. This is not the end. What we see now, is just a foreshadowing of what’s to come. These hard seasons, no matter where you’re at, and where you’ve been, no matter what community you live in – the Lord is making all things new!
The way you serve, the way you love, give, sacrifice, press in, follow through… the ways you say, “Yes, Lord, send me!” and step out in faith right where you are… This is living on mission for Christ.
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you are in control and you are good. Thank you that you use what the enemy means for harm, for our good, and for your glory. Lord, as we seek you, would you prepare our hearts to be kingdom minded. Please move in us, to share Jesus with those who don’t know you. Lord, help us be brave, and kind, and courageous. Let our hearts reflect yours, and give us your words, as we speak on your behalf, to save souls and love on others. Father, there is none like you, and we pray earnestly for you to send us out into the world, as laborers, for the harvest. Help us be bold for the gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Grace Enough 