Monday, January 19, 2014

Enjoy this guest post from the amazing Emmett Rumfield.

The first thing I think about when it comes to seasons are the typical dude responses, football season, basketball season....[insert favorite sport season here] and how my favorite team is playing this season or how this next season is going to be the season my team goes all the way. (side note - My favorite soccer team is in first, Go Gunners, and my football team is playing the 49ers in the NFC championship tonight. Haha)
Yet, If I were to sit down and think about things that really matter (sorry sports fans), i start to ponder on the seasons that i have walked through with The Lord.

I am immediately encouraged that no matter what, however dark the season might have felt that through each and every type of season The Lord was there. He never turned his back on me, even though there were seasons that i turned my back on him. I think thats where the battle of staying intentional throughout the various seasons begins with knowing that The Lord is good and trusting that he will never forsake us. We see scriptural evidence of this truth all throughout the Bible. To name a few:
Hebrews 13:5 NLT
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 

Deuteronomy 31:6,8 NLT
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Joshua 1:9 NLT
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

1Peter 5:7 NLT
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Matthew 28:20 NLT
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

We must remember that even Jesus walked through different seasons while he was here on earth, and I promise you with every bone in my body that Jesus was intentional with every second. The reality is that each season has a divine purpose! Each season is intended to bring us closer to him. Intimacy creates likeness. The closer we get with Jesus the more we become like him, being Christ-like is one of the most effective weapons we have! The true testament of our character isn't how we act at church or how high we raise our hands during worship, rather its the way we act on an everyday basis.

"God doesn't listen to your prayers based on what you're like while your praying, rather what your like when your not."  - Andrew Murray

The bible talks about Jesus being our Good Shepherd in John chapter 10:
   14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

The cool thing about Jesus being a shepherd is that shepherds lead their herd through the valleys and mountaintops through all types of season and circumstances. Shepherds never send their sheep where they haven't been. No matter what season you are going through take rest in the fact that Jesus is our shepherd and whatever season you are going through not only Jesus been there before but he is there with you.

I challenge you to get alone with Jesus and ask him what he wants from you during this season. Ask Jesus to open your eyes to ways you can be intentional no matter the season your walking through.  Ask Jesus how we can grow closer to him during this season.