Coming to the end of a season is always a difficult thing. For the past year-and-a-half or so, the Lord has been keeping me on a strict 6-month season limit. By that, I mean that the past few "seasons" I've been in have only been 6-months. In July 2010, I started the One Thing Internship, which changed my life forever. I came home for approximately 6 months to serve as Dance Director, work, and pour into the youth at Adat (and start Prayer with Deborah!). Now, here I am at IHOPU, closing out my third 6-month season. The next season I'm going into will hopefully be no more than 6-months as well.
What's difficult about coming to the end of a "season" in your life is the push and pull between wanting it to just be over already, and praying that it never ends (some of that being out of sentiment and some out of fear of the future). Now, everyone is different. But, with me, the Lord only gives me a little hint or idea of what's going to happen in the next season. In coming home from the Internship, it was "go home, work, and do the Purim Play". It ended up being "go home, work your butt off, be Dance Director, pour into the Youth, pour into the Prayer Ministry, do the play, do the Shavuot thing, and try not to become bitter and offended at all the drama and people who don't like you because of IHOP"....oh, and "do it all on your own without people your age to run with". The next season of my life is supposed to be geared toward wholeness and healing in Yeshua. But, as usual, I have no idea what that really looks like.
I think it's important to recognize what kind of season we are in in our lives. King David had his different seasons before and during his reign in Israel. Yeshua had his seasons. He was in the secret place for most of His life, and even went through a period of being tested by the devil. Everyone goes through different seasons, some of testing and some of joy. But how can we remain true to God's purposes during each season? How can we maintain our 'yes' to complete each season when you KNOW you're about to transition?
1. Know the season you're in. When I came back to IHOP to attend IHOPU, specifically the Music Academy, I knew the Lord was taking me into a time of growing, a time of being hidden (meaning I did not try to build my ministry), and a time of testing. That is COMPLETELY different than what my season was in coming to IHOP for the Internship. The Internship was, at the beginning, a time of real dedication to the Lord, a time of joy and finding out what God's love is like, and a time of rest. The last half was very different, but we won't go there now. The concept was still the same. So, if I am currently in a season of being hidden, things will cultivated primarily in the secret place. I will not try to build a new dance team in Kansas City and I won't get heavily involved at the Messianic Congregation here either. The goal is to learn that my identity in Christ is not based on my gifts or my ministry. It's based on how I love God in the secret place. It's also based on how I respond to Him in times of testing. This semester has been extremely difficult on me emotionally and even physically. But I am proud to say that I stuck it out. The Lord is proud of me for continuing to attend classes and for engaging the Lord during my classes and in the Prayer Room.
2. Understand God's Overall Plan and Purpose for Your Current Season. Many times, we know that God is taking us somewhere, but we don't understand why. Why am I here at IHOP? Why did I go home after the Internship? Honestly, sometimes we cannot truly understand the full extent of God's purposes for a current season until we're out of it. I kept asking myself, "Why in the world did I go home? Lord, why do You have me here?" I understood the general concept of sharing what the Lord has done and being a light to those around me. But, I had no idea about all the lessons the Lord was going to teach me through my friendships, ministry, and self. Not knowing the full extent is perfectly OK. However, I believe that, if we are to follow after the Lord into a specific season, we should ask Him for His vision for us for that specific season. "Lord, what it Your plan and vision for me do this?" Having a vision for each season in your life will help you continue to say yes to the Lord.
How can we know God's plan and purpose for us? We must have a deep and real relationship with the Lord. We must know His Word, which is the Great Love Story that the Lord has inspired men to write for us. His plan for us must be founded and grounded in His Word. If we know His Word, and commune with the Lord, we will have an easier time understanding His plan and purpose for the season we are in. We will also be able to maintain a yes in our spirits. Which brings me to my next point!
3. Keep A Yes In Your Spirit. If we know what season we're in, and we understand God's purposes for said season, we will be able to say yes to the Lord more easily. If you don't know what God's vision is for the season you're in, how will you know what to say yes to? Saying yes to the Lord is not some ambiguous religious language that we use to show everyone we're devoted to Him. Better yet, it is the secret depths of our soul crying out to the depths of the Lord's heart what He has imprinted in us (Deep calls unto deep, Psalm 42:7). We are crying out in agreement, speaking back to Him what He has told us to say. Sometimes, saying yes is an action word. We must cut off a relationship or stop watching certain things to be in the will of God. That's saying yes. This actually brings me to my next point.
4. Live Out God's Plan For You In Relation To The Season You're In. Based on Biblical Hebrew thinking, we know that our God is a God of action. He's a God of doing and acting out, not only of heart intentions. The Sh'ma (Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One) is actually an action word. Hearing God's Word is automatically thought to include an action following. As I said in Part 2, regarding understanding God's plan and purpose for the season we're in, we must have an actual relationship with God. This is part of acting our God's plan for us. We must dialogue with the Lord. We must know Him. Many believers today see prayer and devotion to the Lord as an option, while ministry and serving is considered to be the priority. This is, unfortunately, a disgusting epidemic that has plagued the body for a very long time. There is no ministry position that gets us closer to the Lord. There is no book or any knowledge that can stand on its own without having a personal relationship with Yeshua. Ministry position and knowledge of the Talmud does not denote holiness or godliness. Sometimes living out God's plan and purpose for the season you're in includes ministry and studying (I actually highly recommend doing both!). But having God as your priority will save you from finding your identity in your ministry or intellect.
As I stated in the previous section, sometimes living out God's plan is giving certain things up. The Lord is always taking us through a process of cleansing and refining. We are always being refined. If you're not being refined right now, you're probably doing something wrong. I encourage you to make the Lord your priority, regardless of the cost. There is no one else who is worthy of your time. There is no one else who is worthy of your love. Create healthy boundaries to protect your personal time with the Lord. Ministries come and go, but the Lord is eternal. Make it your aim to look into the eyes of Infinity. This will give you strength in times of testing and help you to endure the entire season you're in.
5. Run the Race with Endurance. Finishing each season is always a difficult thing to do. As I said at the beginning of this blog, there's always going to be that push and pull between despising what you're doing (the countdown begins), and being sentimental and fearful. But, if we continue to say yes to the Lord and live out what He's asked us to, He will give us grace to run the race in each season of our lives and continue to be faithful to our calling. Being faithful in the little things -- like showing up for every class, or continuing to put in the same effort as when you first started -- is such a crucial element to finishing each season well. Picture the Lord evaluating each season. What would He say about this one you're in? Would He say that you've been faithful in the small things? Would He say well done? Doing things even when we don't feel like it is always painfully difficult...at least for me. But be encouraged, because there's a reason for what God has for you! He will remember your faithfulness through the end of each season, and eventually to the end of your life. :)
One thing I want to make note of. It is OK to pray for yourself. It is OK to ask God to keep you humble and hungry. I have prayed this prayer and I have seen breakthrough gradually in my own life. :)
I hope this little 5-Step Program (lol!) helps you to go after the Lord with all your heart. I hope it helps you to understand Him and yourself better. :)
"May the Lord bless you and keep you
May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you
And give you Shalom (peace)"
~(Numbers 6:24-26, parenthesis added)
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