What’s your favorite season of the year?  For me, it’s probably our spring in the USA and the Pacific Northwest.  Ok, it’s still raining more than any of us really want, but summer is ahead and fall not far off.  Winter seems forever to me…not much light with way too many rainy days and nights.

What about spiritual seasons?  The Apostle Paul urges young pastor Timothy to ‘preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…'(2 Timothy 4:2).  Whatever the season, the Word of God is what we plant, what we water, with what we nurture and protect, and what we harvest gaining the most from.  The Bible is not just another popular book, even though it remains the all time best-seller.   It’s oxygen to our lungs, and bread to our stomachs, and love to our lives.  As Christians we can’t live without it.  Not really.

I’ve tried at times in my life.  Time when I was ‘out of season’ with the Lord.  He was on the shelf…for me and my decisions.  I didn’t think so at the time, but now I can see it for what it was.  Me… I… and myself left little room for God.  I was going through tough times.  Disappointments and failures were dogging me at many turns.  I felt that no one really cared,  and that God had given up on me.  He didn’t care either?

Why should He?  I was going my own way, getting what I deserved.   It was icy-cold, bleak winter in my soul.  Out of season.  Out of touch… and out of sorts.  Ever felt that way?  I think the Apostle Paul encourages people like me, who easily veer off on our own, to get ready.  ‘Be ready’, he says.  Like when I was a  cub scout–‘I promise to do my best…’

Somehow, I thought that tough times meant rejection from the Lord…and from some family and friends.  Lumped Him with them.  Now I know that regardless of the season, rainy or sunny days, good ones and not so good, when I feel like it or not– ‘be ready’.

Keep praying…keep reading your Bible…hang on and hang in there.  Keep reminding yourself of His promises.  His goodness and love.  Looking forward in life.  Of course, learn from our past but spend most of your time looking forward.  As Paul says elsewhere, ‘…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead…(Philippians 3: 13).

‘Be ready in season and out of season’–I prefer to be in season!  But regardless,  be ready to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ no matter what.  Ready?

Prayer:  Lord,  we are so glad we are Yours…now and forever.  Help us to always be ready to serve you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.