DEVOTIONALS
IT’S TIME TO MOVE
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
It’s January 2024 and I ask God what He wants me to do this year. He tells me, “I want you to relocate to a new city this year.” I already have some ideas of what I want to do this year. But, moving would be a whole other challenge; a challenge I didn’t see coming. “You want me to move?” Now my mind floods with questions.
Timing. “Are You sure God, You want me to move this year?” “Why now after all this time?” I turned 50 in February of this year. Starting over in a new city is doable, but I had hoped for a move many years ago when I was much younger. In my mind, moving at a younger age just made more sense. “Couldn’t You have asked me to move sooner?” Sure, I know people relocate and start over every day. “But why me now at this age?”
Location. “Where am I moving to?” “What’s the weather going to be like?” I don’t like being too cold. Please don’t let it be up north. I’m a native Floridian. I’m used to sunny weather and green trees all year round.
Planning. “How much time do I have to plan?”
Money. “ How much is this going to cost?” “Where is the money coming from? God, You know I haven’t worked since December 2023.”
It was difficult for me to agree with God about this move. All the unknown details became very distracting to me. I wasn’t getting any of the answers I wanted to hear.
After many conversations with God and wise counsel from friends, I finally agreed to make this move. I had to realize that even though God asked me to move this year, I had to decide to agree to move. God was inviting me into a partnership with Him.
After I agreed to move, God revealed the details I needed. On August 31, I moved to Huntersville, NC. Looking back, I realize that the unknowns and the internal struggles I experienced while preparing for this move allowed me to grow in my faith and intimacy with God. He led me every step of the way as I chose to partner with Him daily. Each step and decision brought me closer to my August 31st move date.
It's been three months since I moved. I’m so glad I did. Now, I’m working to partner with God on this new adventure in Huntersville. Where He’s leading me and what we’ll do together here, I don’t know. But I have chosen to follow Him.
In Ecclesiastes 3:1, Solomon observed that all things under heaven have a purpose and time to be accomplished. As followers of Christ, we will all face moments of appointed times and seasons God will call us to. How do we face them? Do we question God’s plan or follow Him into the unknown? We all get to choose how we walk these times and seasons with God. They serve a purpose and should be completed when God designates them. Greater intimacy with God awaits us, and there’s a greater work for us to accomplish on the earth when we follow where and when He leads us.
Prayer:
Father, help me to agree to walk with You during Your appointed times and seasons for my life (Amos 3:3). Help me remember that following You despite the unknowns is an invitation for me to grow, be formed in the image of Christ, and partner with You to fulfill Your purpose for me on this earth. I get to see another aspect of You.
Amen.
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
STAY FRUITFUL
" I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. " John 15: 1 - 3 (KJV)
In this scripture, Jesus identifies Himself as the source (the vine) to make one fruitful. God is the farmer (the husbandman) who prunes the branches growing from the vine. Unfruitful branches are removed from the vine and fruitful branches are pruned to make them even more fruitful. I must admit that as a follower of Christ (a branch) there are times when the choices I make cause me to be unfruitful. I find those times come when the seasons of my life become difficult. Difficult times like loss, pain, deception, doubt, and fear, can make it hard to stay connected to Christ. As I mature in my faith, I realize that I must choose to stay fruitful. Submitting to God’s pruning process will allow Him to cut off those areas in my life that will drive me away from Christ. I must choose to allow my connection to Christ’s life-giving power to move in and through me. The fruit that my life displays when I’m connected to Christ pleases God, my Father. I look like the fruit He wants my life to display. I challenge you as a follower of Christ to stay fruitful.
When the challenges of life come to drive a wedge between you and Christ, stay fruitful.
When your pride wants to you to take all the credit for what God has done in and through you, stay fruitful.
When the pain of betrayal causes you to want to turn away from God, stay fruitful.
When you feel the plans, you’ve set for your life are better than what God has planned, stay fruitful.
When storms in your life cause you to want to walk away from God, hold onto Christ and stay fruitful.
Prayer:
God, help me to remember that pruning is necessary for me to bear fruit that is pleasing to You and represents who You are. I can't bear that fruit apart from remaining connected to my Savior, Jesus Christ. I choose to allow You to bear Your fruit through me.