Seasons and Rythms

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1
Because summer vacations end, school starts, and new ministry initiatives commence, September has always had “new year” feel. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that rhythms and seasons are a gift from God to help us work, grow, rest, reflect, play, laugh, mourn, live, create, repent, and thrive. Here are a few personal practices and rhythms to consider as we head into the Fall:

• Commit to giving God 10 minutes of your day for prayer and scripture reading. Start with chapter 8 of the gospel of Matthew or reading a psalm a day. Use a journal if that helps. 
• Ask for God’s perspective on your work and ask for a new joy in the calling He has given you.
• Are you holding grudges or harboring bitterness and unforgiveness towards someone? What do you need to work through so you can be released from these self-destructive attitudes?
• Take a personal inventory of your “affections” or heart desires. Ask God to wean you off inordinate desires for food, alcohol, approval, football, pornography, money, immediate happiness etc and replace them with new desires for holiness, freedom, love, self control and patience.
• Look at your schedule. Does your week have a healthy rhythm of work, play, worship, giving, learning, receiving, exercise and rest?
• Reflect on what you worry about. Money? Job? Future? Health? Children? Loneliness? School? Friends? Take time to remind yourself God cares and offers to relieve you of the toxic virus of worry if you surrender them daily to Him. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see how He provides and thank Him for His daily provision and care. 
• Ask God to give you a fresh perspective of the good news of who He is and who you are from His perspective. Start the Fall knowing you are forgiven, loved and cared for in Christ.