I have heard or been given many words about a new season. You have probably seen them too. I love it when Holy Spirit sings the same song through several different streams and voices. It gives us all a deep breath of hope and even anticipation from God. I am frankly ready for a new season. This current one has been full of faith-building exercises. I am t-i-i-i-red. Smile.
And, here is what I am hearing about the new season quickly approaching.
It will be costly.
Everyone, myself included, wants a New Season where they get what they want and it’s easy. Rarely is that the way of God. God has NO affection for easy at all. He does however have great dedication to stamina, purification, maturity. My friend Suzanne Stelling wrote a compelling book on this process of growth. Check it out sometime.
Instead of easy, God the Father wants to reveal in us the life of His beautiful Son. No more. No less.
So while we are twisting our heads around all things human, this new season will be asking different questions.
Do I look and sound like Jesus?
Do I love like Jesus?
Can I walk in peace in a corrupt world like Jesus?
Do I bring healing to the nations like Jesus?
Depending on where you are with the Lord, you may be asking, how do I do anything like Jesus? So glad you asked! It is the actual merging of our lives with the Holy Spirit so that what pours out looks like our Risen King. And that my friend, is not easy work. It’s costly.
When you pray about the coming days, are you praying for a party or candidate? Or are you praying for the Kingdom of God to be honored and revealed?
When you look at your obligations, commitments, possessions and purpose, are you putting God first? No, really. I mean, first.
This new season is costly.
Everywhere I sense a cooling off of those once deeply in love with God. I see many gifted leaders and servants who are coasting instead of breaking new ground. I witness families who have extreme dedication to extracurricular activities but no true connection with God. I see young ones so preoccupied with social media they have neglected spiritual roots.
This new season is about fanning the fire of God in our hearts personally so that every area of humanity is ablaze with His love.
Like. Jesus.
We are all under great temptation to do three things.
Fall Back.
Fall Asleep.
Fall Behind.
In this new season of God, the Spirit is inviting us into more and more passion from God and a passion for God.
Not a watered down placebo that has no affect on my daily life. But white-hot love encounters with God that burn off every earthly attachment and distraction.
Don’t expect your church or social scrolling to do this for you.
This is me and you sitting with the Lord until we hear from Him. This is eating the word of God until we get full. This is us soaking in one song until gets in us like medicine.
Here’s a jumpstart for you. This album has been a spiritual antibiotic for me this summer.
Do whatever you have to do, or QUIT doing, until you get a REAL relationship with the Living God. Like Jesus.
The new season will not be defined by earthly success but spiritual depth. It’s what this chaotic world needs right now. Not more fluff and stuff. But real love.
Like Jesus.