I heard a neat teaching on difficult seasons (trials) the other day given by Mike Hayes. Only God can change a difficult season in our lives and He can do it in a Kairos moment and our breakthrough comes. Kairos is Greek for the “opportune” moment!
But what can we do while we wait for our breakthrough? Two things are pertinent: 1) protect our head and 2) protect our heart. We need the helmet of salvation to keep our mind pure and the breastplate to protect our heart. You know how the enemy likes to poison our thoughts and hit us in the vital areas.
Acts 3:19 is the key that moves the hand of God to turn things around for us. Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.
Notice this life cycle: In April, butterflies lay eggs on leaves that change to larvae. The caterpillar or worm attaches to a limb and a cocoon is formed. The worm hangs upside down in darkness for about a week and a half. In this stage, the worm melts and a liquid is formed from what was the worm. After this stage the mass stretches out of the cocoon and spreads its wings and a butterfly flies off. It was noted that a butterfly is not a worm with wings, but a whole new creation.
Here’s the lesson for those of us that are hanging upside down in the dark. God is, indeed, changing us. His Spirit is leading us, and cleaning us up and times of refreshing are on the way. The bottom line is “change your mind; God will change your season!”
Thank you, Charlotte and Ginger, for hosting Spiritual Sundays, a place where we are inspired to stay close to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Beautiful illustration of being a new creation in Christ Jesus! Thank you for sharing this teaching about trials...Because all of us go through them. And may we not miss that "kairos" moment when God intervenes. Have a great weekend sister Mary and God bless you and your beautiful family. Keeping you in prayers. Thank you for yours. Love to you.
ReplyDeleteI just wish this season would hurry up and be over! But I know that the Lord's timing is perfect and I am learning so many lessons through this season. I think of you and Carrie often and say a prayer.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Debbie
What a great post. I'm anxious to become the butterfly. I'm getting tired of this cocoon. Thank you for this illustration. It was perfect for me today.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charlotte
what a great teaching Mary! Thankyou for teaching us
ReplyDeleteNow I pray that all of us recognize the season we are in and be compassionate to others in that season as well! Trusting the Lord to bring us through more like HIM than when we began!
praying for you my dear friend love you soo!
Marvelous! What a great and needed lesson. Thank you for posting.
ReplyDeleteAwesome.
ReplyDeleteThis post is so helpful! I too feel like my husband and I and some of our family are hanging upside down in the dark! A time of waiting...guess we have a choice to focus on God or the darkness..lately I have bene focusing on the darkness but God reminded me that He is in charge of the seasons of my life through what you have written here. Thank you! God bless
ReplyDeleteThis season seems so long. Thank-you for this wonderful analogy, I'm so glad your shared this today.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Ginger
We do all go through those seasons of hanging upside down in the dark...what a great illusatration, because that is really how it feels. Changing our attitude does allow us to become the butterfly, so that we can be a testiment of God's power to change us into a beautiful product of His great love.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you,
Mary
“change your mind; God will change your season!”
ReplyDeleteAMEN AMEN AMEN
Oh thank you SO much for this powerful devotional. How it ministered to my spirit and brought MUCH encouragement...I NEEDED this.
What an inspirational post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnne
I love knowing that God can do in a moment what we can not do in a lifetime. Thank you for this beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteA very encouraging post...we all go through trials but we who know Christ know that He is with us always!
Thanks for a good post!
Blessings,
Jean
A beautiful illustration! Yes, we all go through those 'hanging upside down' seasons and they're not joyful. But Joy does comes in the morning! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
I so enjoyed reading this Mary. You've encouraged my heart. I love you dear sister.
ReplyDeleteTurning the test into a testimony isn't a fun process is it! God reminds me that he wants ALL of me, in good times and bad. Thank you for your gift of encouragement, Miss Mary!
ReplyDeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Blessings.
Thanks for that encouraging post.
ReplyDeleteWow, today has been a great day for wonderful teaching on SS . This is a beautiful , teaching post. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement . I so agree with the Butterfly illustration.I raise butterflIes each Spring around the time of Easter &then relaese them with grand kids & family to illusrate our new life in Christ, how we are changed now ,& also it can be illusration of how we will be changed in future heaven.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by & the well wishes for my Birthday.8~)
~Myrna
What a beautiful post. The caterpillar to butterfly illustration is especially great at showing how He intervenes and makes new.
ReplyDeleteSavannah's curls are natural. When her hair is wet it is very curly...accept for a straight section in the front on each side. Only GOD could be so creative..lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comments. Your friendship means so much to me.
Blessings,andrea