#outofseasonreaping

As summers end is approaching, I love the anticipation of fall! I think about sweaters, scarfs, boots, jackets and quite frankly all the fall essentials. It's funny how when you are in the middle of one season you are so eager to get to the next. I was so eager to get to Summer in Spring because I was excited for shorts, sandals, and swimwear. I guess every season has it's benefits. Like I may want it to transition from Summer to Spring but am I really ready for the roasting temperatures that accompany it? (In Oklahoma 90 degrees is like 115 with the heat index). Or the transition from Summer to fall am I ready to give up my lazy days by the pool for chilly mornings in front of my space heater? If you are single you want to be married. If you are married you want to have kids, If you have kids you are ready to have an empty nest and ready for grand kids and retirement. Just keep in mind that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. There are ups and downs for every season. One thing that the word says about the seasons in our lives is found in 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word of God. Be ready in season or out of season." Just because you aren't in a particular season doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare. It is called wisdom. A definition that I have heard of wisdom is "doing something now that will benefit you in the future." When talking about seasons, I think about a farmer. They plant seeds at the beginning of the season which is not visibly the right atmosphere for growth. They do this in anticipation of the harvest at the reaping time. I believe we should be prepared out of season. You may not see the the next season in near sight and might not know when it will take place, but when you are prepared out of season, guess what, you are also prepared when the season changes! God will send sudden rains for the seeds that are sown out of season time. If you are not prepared for that rain to give nutrients to the seed, you miss out on the effective reaping at harvest time. When you are prepared out of season, the things that could potential wreck you will only take you off guard for a second. Your recovery time will be shortened or you may not even be fazed and you will able to move on. So how do you prepare out of season? Psalms 119:11 "Your word I have hidden in my heart so I might not sin against it." It is hidden so when the time is right it can be found. Play hide and seek with the Word. Think about the next season that you are looking to go into. A new career, dating relationship, schooling, engagement, marriage, retirement, a new home or maybe more independence. Find a scripture that pertains to that. Hide it in your heart by meditating on it and speaking it it out in a confession. When the right time comes, not only will you have knowledge and wisdom concerning that season but also the ability to offset the devices of the enemy. Soldiers don't just show up to a battle and expect to be triumphant without proper preparation. No they all train before! We are soldiers in a battle for our lives and the enemy would love nothing better than to completely obliterate us and destroy our confidence in God. When we are prepared out of season we know how to combat him so he can't shake our confidence. Trials and battle are inevitable, Jesus even said so, but when we are prepared before the battle, we can victoriously take on the next season with joy and peace. #outofseasonreaping