relentlessly pursue every season

season |ˈsēzən| an indefinite or unspecified period of time.

Those of us who live in Ohio/Pennsylvania are experiencing a season change.   As I sit at my desk at the library, I can overhear my co-workers talking about how fast the summer went and where on earth did time go?  I too am wondering where the warm season went.  

A little more than a month ago, my pastor spoke about what we need to do to become closer to Holy Spirit.
1. slow down!!
2. talk with Holy Spirit
3. pray for extended period of times with Holy Spirit in your prayer language

One of those really struck me to the core to the point of tears.  I do not know how to slow down.  Slowing down is so foreign to me.  I had completely forgotten what rest meant, but most importantly, resting in Jesus.  So, I decided this needed to be fixed.  But how do you pull yourself out of habit and into a completely differently lifestyle and state of being??

That Wednesday, I was on my way to Denny's for a long awaited meeting with a dear friend when I had received a text from her saying she would see me at 8:30am, a half hour later than I thought we were supposed to meet.  

It was already half way into the week and I had yet to even attempt to slow down.  It was on the forefront of my mind, but I felt like I was so incapable of it.  Upon hearing I was early, my first thought was, "I have a half hour to get things done and out of the way for the day."  

Then I heard Holy Spirit whispering to me.  He said, "Slow down, my friend.  Breathe."  So I heeded to His whisper and headed to Denny's early and was able to read a little bit and gaze at the changing seasons through the window.  

As I was pondering on the subtle changes in the leaves, I began to recognize the beauty of slowing down and cherishing where you are.  Not only that, but recognizing God's goodness in the season you are in.

There is such a divinity in the changing of seasons.  And if you do not recognize where you are and where you are heading, the seasons of life will change without you and you will be left in the winter from ages ago.  Also, if you are distracted by the season that is yet to come, then you completely miss the beauty of where you are.

One of the things that I find most fascinating about the Lord is that as you listen to His whispers and focus on where you are, He prepares you for the season to come. 

Should you prepare for certain things in the future?  Absolutely!!
Should you keep your goals in mind and work towards it?  Never stop that!

But we must always keep the present in mind. 

psalm 118:23 (nkjv) this is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Through learning how to slow down, which I am still trying to achieve, the Lord brought me to this verse.  

Most people see this verse as "if you are having a bad day and need some enlightenment" sort of thing.  But I saw it in a different light.  

I saw it as needing to rejoice in the day the Lord made presently.  I needed to stop and look around at where He has blessed me and has revealed His beauty to me and rejoice in that.  

I encourage you, men and women, to pursue each day that the Lord has made for you!!  I encourage you to relentlessly pursue each season the Lord places before you. 

do not let it pass you by!!