Thriving In Your Season

Thriving in Your Seasons

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Eph 5:16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

We are in a time of seasonal change and I felt impressed to preach on this subject. After this I will be beginning a series on the subject of rest, that will blend into a series on Jesus, that is where we are going for the next several months.

Eph 5:16 tells us two things, first we are to make the most of our time, and secondly that advice is given for a season that is evil. A season is a prolonged period of time.

In other words make the most of the time in an evil season. When you are in a difficult season make the most of it. When times are tough it is more important than ever that you squeeze the most you can out of it.

I have three questions for you today that if you will think about them they will help you fulfill Ephesians 5:16.

PPT 3 questions

1. What season are you in?

2. What is God wanting to teach you in this season?

3. What do you need to do to move on?

So what season are you in? Let me help you with that, by giving a brief snapshot of how the seasons we experience them here in the Northern U.S. can relate to seasons of life.

We will start with fall. What words would you use to describe fall?

Fall is a time of transition, so is spring, but the key difference is that in the Fall you are going from better to worse. Beauty to ashes.

Fall is a time of foreboding, you know what is ahead, the good parts of the year are quickly winding down, and the cold harsh reality of winter is just ahead.

Let me give you a couple of fall time seasons of life.

Graduation your friends are scattered all over America. Sad for parents the nest that has been a part of their lives for so many years will no longer be filled with the chirping sounds of youth.

Retirement. Friends you have worked with for decades you will see far less of.

Senior years - you know what is ahead, and your prayer is that God will make the journey painless.

Winter - is a time of hardship, stripping of the external, miracles are far between in a winter season.

Spring - is a time of new life, miracles and growth.

Summer is a time of enjoyment and work.

Ok with that done, I want to say you can’t answer question 2, until you can answer question 1. So what season are you in?

Retirement is a fall season. Moving to another place is a fall season. Changing jobs is a fall season.

Hospice is a winter season, loneliness is a winter season, divorce is a winter season.

Pregnancy is a spring season, breakthrough is a spring season, a miracle is a spring season.

Marriage is a summer season. Childbirth is a summer season. Growth is a summer season. Fruitfulness is a summer season.

So what season are you in?

2. What is God wanting to teach you in this season?

A. There is a beauty and a purpose for every season.

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Ec 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time...

B. Here is counsel from the wisest man who ever lived:

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Ec 3:12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

Ec 3:13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. (NIV)

Find happiness where you can, and breath it in deeply if you are in a spring or summer season.

Do good. Doing good makes you feel good.

Find the blessing in your toil.

Make the most of your season, you never know if it will be your last.

Make the most of your season because the one ahead is depending on you successfully navigating the one you are now in.

C. If nothing else know that God is working to refine your gold.

3. What do you need to do to move on?

First question, what if I don’t want to move on? Life is a river not a dead sea.

This week 6 million plus people packed up and headed to safer ground in Florida, they only had a few days notice. The majority of them made the most of the time, they boarded windows, grabbed water, hunted for gasoline, and sought refuge. How foolish it would be to spend their time crying about what they can’t do, they had to look instead for what they could do.

Close: Pray for those in a winter season. Pray for those who want to hear from God on how to make the most of their season.