Most of my life was spent raising my three
children. I was a stay-at-home mom for 22 years and have been divorced for some time.
It seems many people are going through a very difficult season these days. Whether from financial difficulties, stressed relationships, or poor health the sources are endless; the need for a change of season epidemic.
Too many are suffering in a winter of discontent. Do we just endure the long winter or can we change the season. Daniel 2:21 says God can "change times and seasons." If you don't like the season you are in... change it.
So, how do we change the season? If I can take liberty with Shakespeare..."Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of [God]. Through Christ our winter is made a glorious summer. The presence of the Lord will bring us times of refreshing in the midst of our drought.
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord," (Acts 3:19)
To change our season we need to repent and be converted so that our sins may be blotted out that a new season "may "[is allowed] come. To repent means "to change one's mind" (Webster.)
If we change our mind...the Lord will change your season. He will change the winter of our discontent into glorious summer. When we change our mind...our thinking... we don't change the winter...we change the discontent!
We still have financial difficulties, stressed relationships, or poor health, but through Christ we can change our mourning into dancing. Through Christ we can choose to be joyful and content in the Lord. For…the joy of the Lord is my strength. We can change our discontent, our whining, and complaining into rejoicing.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
You are to rejoice always, because joy is the easiest fruit to lose. You can't live off of the joy you had yesterday. Joy can give you strength only when you possess it. Yet you need to rejoice always because if you don't then you lose the strength to fight when facing trials.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." (James 1:2)
Why is it pure joy whenever we face trials? Because joy gives you strength to fight in the midst of your trials. So by rejoicing, you have victory over your trials. When you change your thinking from despair to rejoicing...you can change your season.
Are you facing a challenge or difficulty that seems overwhelming? When you stand strong and remain faithful to God, He promises to set your course for victory! And victory doesn’t necessarily mean everything is going to go our way all the time or work out the way we planned.
The Bible says that the real battle we face isn’t in our circumstances, it’s in our minds. The enemy is after your thoughts. He’s after your peace and joy. He knows that when you have peace, it’s a sign that you are connected to the Father. When you hold on to your peace and choose to be joyful, you are walking in victory, and it’s just a matter of time before your circumstances line up!
Remember, God knew every person who would wrong you, and He’s already laid out your vindication. God knew every disappointment, and He’s already laid out new opportunities. God knew everything that would be stolen, and He has already laid out your restoration. Rejoice today knowing that He has set your course for victory in every area of your life!
"He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones" (Proverbs 2:7-8)
Heavenly Father, thank You for the victory You have in store for me. I choose to be faithful; I choose to walk humbly before You. I stand in faith knowing You are working all things together for my good because You love me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.
