Times and seasons…

The times we live in today have seemingly become more and more stressful and filled with frustration. No matter which way one turns, there always seems to be a struggle - nothing is ever easy nor proceeds without a hitch. One would think that in our continuing 'evolution' and technical progress we would live much easier and 'user friendly' lives. Yet the evidence is just the opposite - life is becoming harder, more frustrating and more difficult.

When glorification of self is the main focus of people today what can we expect to have happen around us?

Our natural tendency to react to our present environment is to respond in one of two ways: retreat (resulting in withdrawing from society) or become antagonistic (resulting in increasing aggressiveness).

Instead of allowing our natural inclinations to either retreat or become antagonistic lead us, might we seek another path:

When we are driving and get cut off, when we enter a store and are treated rudely, when we run up against any of the forms of harassment that seem to permeate our daily lives, when the daily issues of life that we must confront create tension and anxiety and frustration, when it seems to be that the world has truly lost its mind...

Let us take a breath, restrain the natural urge that wells up within our flesh and go to the Throne of Grace seeking His mercy and grace in our time of need. Allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us and flow through us so that we might walk in the Spirit, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in that moment.

When we get cut off in traffic - pray for that person and their salvation.

Before we enter into a store, place our hand on the building and pray for the people that are in that place (both the lost and the found) and that the light of the Lord's presence would pierce through the darkness.

When harassment comes pray against the wiles of the enemy and his lot and praise the Lord that He is in control.

When it seems that the world has lost its mind understand that we are not to be of this world and yet we are His ambassadors seeking to represent Him - His truth, His grace, His wisdom, His love.

It is the time and it is the season for all of His people to proceed boldly with confidence from our daily visits to His Throne of Grace so that we may be faithful ambassadors to Him in all of the activities of our daily lives.