Seasons of Change

Written November 2, 2020

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In reviewing my journal, I found this prayer and meditation.  I remember it clearly.  I was standing in the doorway of the church lobby, looking out into the parking lot on a gray and hazy day.  Autumn was in full force.  There was a chill in the air.  I was in deep prayer and reflection over the past 6 months and the changes that Covid had brought upon our world.  In my heart and mind, the reality of gospel work that had all but ceased hung over me.  The fear that the world, including many believers, was living under was real and strong.  But I could not shake that impression of the Spirit that this was exactly what the adversary wanted.  Ministry had ceased.  Outreached had ceased.  True fellowship of the body had been dampened and hindered.   And an urgent sense of concern and a call to action once more was placed upon my heart.  These were the words I prayed that day.  Upon finding it today, I made some general edits and clarifications of my thought process from that day, but in large part, I have left this as it was written then sensing that the words here were the Spirit’s that lit upon my heart that day.  May it be a call to us now, as it was then, to make the best use of our time.  For the days are short.  And growing shorter. 

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The wind blows through the tree branches

Leaves long past colored, fall gently to the ground

The crisp, Autumn air swirling in a torrent of breeze.

The Seasons are changing.

The warmth of summer long gone

The chill of fall bespeaks of the coming winter

Hanging heavy in the air.

I can’t help but feel it’s an omen of things to come.

Times are changing

The world is getting darker and harsher.

The warmth of spiritual vitality that once used to permeate our nation;

All but gone.

Though many profess with their lips to believe in You, Abba,

Few are the displays of passionate sold out believers, followers of You.

This sense of urgency continues to rest heavy upon me and yet,

What do I do with it?

How am I taking the gospel to the lost?

How am I praying passionately and regularly for those who are dying in their sins?

How am I training my children, desperately to love you?

This fall, the change of seasons seems more….

…Seems more….

….Profound.

The stiff crisp Autumn air seems to bring it with it,

Something ever more ominous

And here I stand in the doorway of a building whose doors have been all but closed.

Whose ambassadors of Christ have stopped going forth.

Because the threat of sickness and death has stilled us.

Shouldn’t that threat have invigorated us?

Shouldn’t that threat have given us a greater sense of passion and urgency?

Instead, we closed down ourselves like the rest of the world did.

And I get it.

We thought we were protecting lives, those very same lives that if they died without you would be sent into eternity of judgment and wrath.

However, time for that is past.

We must once again take up the banner of the gospel.

Yes, there’s risk

Yes there’s threat,

Yes it will be work.

But this has been true in all ages.

And time draws short.

The seasons are changing.

The wind is blowing cold.

And if we are not faithful, if we are not careful.

We won’t be left standing when you come.

I desire that we be faithful about the work

When Your Son comes in the clouds!

Let me be active and engaged

When that trumpet sounds

Let me be whisked away

Not from sleep

But from mid stride of service

From mid sentence of proclamation

From active engagement in the task assigned.

May I not be found withdrawn

Hiding from all risk

But embracing that risk

With faith in your person

We know that if we are yours, we are not lost

And can never be

For you are faithful to keep us

But Father what I fear that this changing seasons is going to expose

Is just how few are genuine followers of you there really are.

My passion and prayer is that those who profess you

Will in fact pass the test.

Let us be found faithful

Show us the way.

Show us how to step forth, in a time of risk and danger.

In the face of opposition and hostility

In the face of risk

In the face of uncertainty and difficulty

Show us the way to step forth with boldness and compassion and urgency with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Time is short.