Know the Value of the Season

 Proverbs 10:5, Know the importance of the season you’re in and a wise son you will be. (TPT) 

“The seasons change, and you change, but the Lord abides evermore the same, and the streams of His love are as deep, as broad and as full as ever.” — Charles H. Spurgeon 

“Season” here figuratively represents changing stages. As believers we all go through seasons in our walk and ministry.  

In Proverbs 10:5 Solomon encourages us to know the importance or value of each season. There are three key elements to each new season. The purpose, the plan, and the provision. I want us to dig a bit into each of these elements. 

First, the purpose (call).  

What is it that God has called you to do in this season? Each child of God has a calling on their life. Hear me, I am not saying everyone is called to pulpit or street corner ministry. Not everyone is called to missionary service at home or abroad. However, once we accept Christ as our Savior the plan that God laid out before we were born begins to take shape. Don't get me wrong, God uses everything that happens prior to our conversion to help mold and shape us into who he has destined us to become. However, after we come to Christ, the destiny he has planned for us begins to unfold as we learn from him, listen to his voice, and walk in intimacy with him. 

Psalm 139:16, You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. 

Here in Psalm 139, we see that before we were even born, God had a plan for us and had our days numbered. God has a plan for each of our lives. For some there's a specific call like that of a pastor or doctor and those individuals' study and work toward that goal. They attend college to get their degree in their particular field of interest/call. Then after graduation, they move into working in their chosen field or ministry. 

For others, the call may change depending on our season.  For example, some of us may be in a season now where being a wife and a mom and raising our children is our current call. However, someday our children are going to grow up and leave the house and then God will have something else for us to do.  

No matter what we're called to do, or what season we're in, our primary purpose is always that of winning the lost and sharing Christ with the hurting and broken world. We can and must fulfill this purpose in every season of our lives. Remember, there is no retirement in the Kingdom of God. 

Some may be thinking, Melissa, I don't feel like I have a call or at least I don't know what that call is. My encouragement to you is to go to the Father and ask him to reveal to you what his call is for your life in this season. I guarantee you he has one and he will be delighted to share it if you're willing to listen. 

Second, the plan (vision). 

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT) 

No matter what season we're in, God has a plan for that season. At our church, here in Temple, we have what we call prophetic (vision) Sunday. This happens at the beginning of the new year (season). It is a time when the leadership of the church individually spend time with the Lord to hear his heart for the coming year and his direction for the church.  

Like our church leadership, when we feel the Lord leading us into a new season, we need to have a vision casting session with the Father. We need to seek his face for his direction in this new phase of life.  

This could involve: 

1. Taking out pencil and paper and making notes of the specific things you hear Holy Spirit drop in your heart.  

2. Taking stock of where you've been and where you feel that you are headed. (As in goals, not necessarily physically moving.) 

3. Taking an inventorying the resources that God has already given you and creating a list of the things that you feel will be needed in this next season. 

4. Identifying the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4, Find your delight and true pleasure in Yahweh, and he will give you what you desire the most. (TPT) I believe that God puts desires in our hearts so that he can fulfill them. 

5. Talking with a trusted spiritual mentor. Getting prayer support and wise counsel. 

Habakkuk 2:2, Then the Lord answered me and said, “Write down the vision, and inscribe it clearly on tablets, so that one who reads it may run. (NASB) 

We need to be sure to keep the vision before our eyes so that the enemy cannot come in and steal it away from us. We know that in the scripture Jesus talked about the sower and the seeds. Some of the seeds fell on the foot path and the birds came and ate it up. Others fell on rocky soil and couldn't grow deep enough roots, so they withered and died. But the seed that fell on good soil produced a harvest of up to 100-fold. 

As we're receiving the vision from the Lord for our new season, we need to make sure that it is given every opportunity to take deep root in our spirits so that our life can produce lasting fruit. 

Finally, the provision (resources, people, finances, facilities, etc.). 

2 Peter 1:3, For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. (AMP) 

Philippians 4:19, And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (AMP) 

In these two scriptures we see that God has already deposited into our spirits everything we need to live godly lives. We don’t have to grow it, it is already there, fully developed by Holy Spirit. We also see that he promises to provide for all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

In different seasons, we need different kinds of provision. For instance, let's say God has called us to start a Christian bookstore in our community.  

First, we will need financial provision in order to: 

1. Rent or purchase a facility in which to house the bookstore.  

2. Buy materials and supplies to build displays and prepare the building. 

3. Advertise the opening of the new bookstore. 

4. Purchase inventory for the store. 

Second, we will need a building in which to set up the store: 

1. A facility that is already built, or 

2. Land on which to build the facility. 

Third, we will need people and resources: 

1. Other business people with whom to consult. 

2. Financial planner and/or accountant. 

3. A business degree or some education in business, management, and/or finance. 

4. Contractors, builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, realtors, etc. 

5. Employees to work in the store. 

Each of our calls will be tailor made, by the Father, for us. The people and resources we need will be different, however, the source of all is the same.... Our amazing Heavenly Father.  

In every season of life, walking by faith is the key to victory. Hebrews 11:1-3, Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for. Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen. (TPT) 

In conclusion, as we enter a new season (year), walking in faith, we first need to seek God for the purpose (call) for the season. Then we ask him to reveal his plan (vision). And then we pray in, believe in, and work toward, the provision that is necessary to fulfill the call and the vision he's given us. 

2024 is a new year and just might be the beginning of a new season. Seek the Father’s heart and he will direct your path!!!