3 Ways to Tend Your Spirit & Soul in a New Season
My dear reader,
The earth where I live has been awakening in the past few weeks, and beginning to warm itself in the sun after slipping off its icy coat.
The process has definitely been stop-and-start. One day, the sun shines warm and happy yellow blooms appear, and it feels exactly like summer. And then the next day, cold rain blows under a steel sky, and it appears as if there’s been no progress at all in leaving winter behind.
But for as long as I’ve been noticing things, that’s been the nature of spring. It’s an expected period of transition.
In a spiritual sense, we’re in transition, too.
And when it comes to the change in spiritual season, we are not merely spectators. Similar to the way gardeners are already nurturing seedlings indoors, there are also “inside” preparations God is inviting us to make now that will directly affect the harvest.
As we tend our hearts, spirits, and souls in this new season, I want to share 3 of those invitations with you:
#1: Day and night, let incense arise
Scripture refers to the prayers of God’s people as incense, an offering to God.
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you…
Psalm 141:2 (NLT)
Look at this stunning scene from Heaven that reveals the preciousness of our prayers to God:
… the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp,
and golden bowls full of incense,
which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5:8 (ESV)
Also see Revelation 8:3-4.
The spiritual substance of the prayers of the saints is a thing. And not figuratively, or in some imaginary way.
The prayers God’s people prayed yesterday and last night are literally among those prayers discussed in Revelation 5 and Revelation 8.
And the prayers we pray today and tonight will be, as well.
God is renewing a compelling invitation for us to let our prayers arise to him day and night. He wants our full communication; deep communication, constant communication.
Pour out your heart before Him.
Psalm 62:8 (NKJV)
Here’s a memorable invitation in song to let our incense arise continually: Worthy of It All / I Exalt Thee – Sean Feucht.
Never stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 (NLT)
#2: Pray for the harvest
Recently, during the night while I slept and dreamed, I heard the refrain of the hymn Bring Them In:
Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring them in from the fields of sin;
Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring the wand’ring ones to Jesus
The song, written in 1885 by Alexcenah Thomas, is a prayer to God to bring in the spiritual harvest.
Here are some teachings from Scripture that can guide us in praying for the harvest, as well:
- 1 Timothy 2:1
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1
- Colossians 4:3
- Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2
- Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20; Luke 8:15
- John 4:38
Now is a time to pray for the harvest.
#3: Be a good shepherd
In Ezekiel 34, God explained in graphic terms what he considers a bad shepherd.
And then, in beautiful contrast, he described how he himself would care for his sheep.
Jesus compassionately and effectively lived the description of the good shepherd that God had declared to Ezekiel. See John 10:11-18; Matthew 14:14; and the acts of Jesus recorded throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and compare them to what God promised in Ezekiel 34 that he would do.
As followers of Jesus who are commissioned to continue his work (John 14:12-14), let us be good shepherds.
Inspirational Fiction
It’s Spring in the Valley of Artisans!
… and River Carter is transforming her backyard garden into a place of inspiring beauty. Is God changing her, too?
While away for the weekend, The Valley of Artisans’ premier potter, River Carter, is unexpectedly faced with a message that challenges her very beliefs about how God works.
Does God really want to do more than she could ask or imagine? And if he does, what’s next for her?
Now’s a perfect time to get book 4 in my new Valley of Artisans series:
Ordinary Miracles: Valley of Artisans – Book 4
Read the entire Valley of Artisans series:
Parting Words
In my newest Valley of Artisans book, Ordinary Miracles, River encounters some surprises—of the ultimately good kind.
May this be that kind of season for you, as well.
To your freedom, health, and wholeness,
AmyLu
Inspiring Christian Fiction by AmyLu Riley
Remembering: Valley of Artisans – Book 1
Open for Miracles: Valley of Artisans – Book 2
A Winter Wedding in the Valley of Artisans: Valley of Artisans – Book 3
Ordinary Miracles: Valley of Artisans – Book 4
Inspiring Christian Non-Fiction by AmyLu Riley
Jesus as Healer: Miracles and Meditations in Luke
Stay: Why I’m Still Here, A Spiritual Memoir