Embracing Each Season of Life--Joyce Meyer

Have a conversation with God. Ask, seek, knock. Don’t quit.

Philippians 4: 12 "I’ve learned the secret of being content. . ." Embrace all of it.

Get the words, “I hate,” out of our language. Instead say, “I love my life, my God, my work, my life.”

Gen 8:22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Doing the Word changes lives. Get about doing. Make a decision to let God into your life to really love the life He has given you. Stop wishing. Wishing is lazy. Determined people DO!

We have seasons of harvest, trials, and waiting. Each real breakthrough comes after difficulties.

Song of Solomon 2:12 "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;"--Keep your hope.

Phil.4:13 "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

I Cor 10:13“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

You can choose to believe whatever you want to believe.

Phil 4:11-12 "11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Daniel 2:21 "And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding."

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Eccl.3:1-4, 11 "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

11 He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."

When we try hanging on to things, people, etc, when God is done with it, that will keep you from the next great thing He has for you. Stop hanging on to that which isn’t working anymore.The more we resist, the more it will hurt and the longer it will take.

Take slow deep breaths, relax. Just as in labor. God has a purpose for everything He allows into our lives. Our problems are tools to drive us to Him. If we trust in God, we can become strong in Him.

Stop resenting the ones who hurt us. Rejoice in the Lord. Remember the story of Joseph.

Enjoy your life even when going through the trials. Joseph went to prison 13 years for something he didn't do. He was falsely accused by his master’s wife. Then he was forgotten by those he helped. Gen 50:20. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary things.

Spring is just around the corner.

Stop trying to figure things out. Avoid excessive reasoning.

We all want an explanation, but He gave us the Incarnation. His word is in us.

Relax and let us do His will.

Four Purposes for Trials.

1. To humble us. Everyone who becomes great must go through difficulties. It isn't about abounding all the time. 2 Cor. Paul’s thorn in the flesh verse.
2. To make us more dependent upon God. Every time you make a sacrifice, you won’t reap a harvest the next day. Go to Him because we can’t live without Him. Spring is just around the corner. Sometimes we need to have a meeting with ourselves. 2 Cor. 1:9 "Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."
3. To test our faith. 1 Pet. 1:7 "These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." Go ahead and pass that test so you don’t have to take it again.
4. To equip us to help others.2 Cor. 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God". God will give you a double reward if you endure under injustice and persevere. If you forgive, you only have to forgive once. If you hate, you have to do it every day, and it will kill you.Contrast: we love spring because it follows winter. No roses without thorns, or be thankful that roses have thorns. Our perspective determines much. Love peace and freedom from guilt. Good things are on the horizon of your life.