Ecclesiastes 3:1
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:”
INSIGHT
-The word for “seasons” in Greek is kairos which carries the meaning of fixed or special occasions, and the word “times” is chronos and refers to the general time frame of events in God’s plan. God is the author of times and seasons, and created everything that exists for a purpose. From the beginning, God created the the heavens and the earth, and designed diverse lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, signs from seasons, days from years (Genesis 1:14). God appointed the moon for seasons and the sun knows its going down(Psalms 104:19). These times and seasons stem from everlasting to everlasting while the earth remains in existence. Therefore, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22). God causes the rain and the snow to come down from heaven, and they do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater (Isaiah 55:10). Before God created man, He created the solar system, prepared land and sea for habitation, and life on the entire earth. This is God’s design for mankind to coexist with each other and bond with the ecosystem, for the glory of His name. He created us in His own image and likeness, that we may be like Him and represent Him on the earth, for His glory. God is not the author of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). Before He formed us in our mothers wombs, He knew us and predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will (Ephesians 1:5). It is therefore important to note that we were created for a purpose, especially to advance God’s kingdom according to His image and likeness of love. God is Sovereign and desires that we succeed in His purpose for us, and according to His divine will. These times and seasons where designed for us to accomplish His good pleasures. We rejoice in the Lord for He has good plans for us for us in every aspect of our lives, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.
PRAYER
Lord our God You are the same yesterday, today and forever. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Thank You for enabling us to see this new month in peace and good health. Remember with mercy loving Savior all those who are sick that You may restore their health and grant them Your grace. You are on the throne Abba Father thank You for this far that You have brought us and the far that You are taking us. Thank You for the plans that You have for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. May You level the mountains for us dear Jesus and fight for us in all our battle. Heaven is Your throne and the earth Your footstool, all victory and honor belongs to You. May Your purposes for our lives come to pass in our lives at the appointment time. May You break every plan of the enemy working in our lives, relationships, marriages, businesses, work, churches, ministries, leadership and nation. You are not an author of confusion dear Jesus, may You make a way for us where there seems to be no way. We humbly ask You to forgive us all our trespasses and remove every accusation against us and our families in the courts of heaven by Your precious blood. May You grant us victory in every thing that pertains to our lives and future. You created us in Your own image and likeness dear Jesus, that we may represent You here on the earth. Grant in us the gift of wisdom and faith that we may please You dear Jesus. Form in us the fruit of love and the spirit of the fear of You Lord, that we may follow after Your heart dear Jesus. All glory, praise and honor belongs to You Jesus, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Habakkuk 2:2-4
“Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”
INSIGHT
-Habakkuk the prophet was concerned of the evil deeds that the Israelites performed and addressed them to the Lord. Habakkuk spoke to an age beyond his own. The Babylonian conquest would not be evident in his day, but in the future. The Lord instructed him to make the vision plain so that the future generations may read, God’s plan. Since times and seasons belong to the Lord and He give to each one of us. It is our duty to seek from the Lord regarding our timings and seasons. According to His Word in Habakkuk 2:2-4 we are meant to have desires, visions, dreams and aspirations. We are called to ask God to reveal to us our predestined purpose so that we can write it down and set it before the Lord that He may bring it to fulfillment at His own time and purpose planned out for us. Since each one of us has been created for a unique purpose, God desires that His plans work perfectly in us. Every thing God has deposited in us has an appointed time in the Lord. When God appoints time, He brings it to fulfillment and it does not tarry. Surely, God is keen to bring our desires to pass and make everything beautiful in His plans and timings. We are called to live by faith as the Lord always gives good things to His people and to those who trust in Him. We are called to have faith in the Lord and trust in Him. For in Him we shall never lack any good thing as His His Word says that the young lion may lack but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing (Psalms 34:12). We should also be careful not to miss out on the timings and seasons that God has plans for us and brought us to. We should seek God for wisdom to discern His seasons and timings for us.
PRAYER
Dear Father, we praise You and worship You today for who You are and all You have done for us. You are truly good, faithful and gracious. We thank You for all You have done for us and bless Your holy name. Forgive us for the many times we have not pleased You in any kind of way. Today we pray that You will straighten our paths and reveal to us more about our destinies and purposes You have for us. We pray that You will align our desires to Your Plans for us. We pray that You will bring our Plans to fulfillment at Your timings for us. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now, and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Daniel 2:21
Galatians 6:7-10
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
INSIGHT
-The principle of reciprocity is one of the basic laws of social psychology. It states that in many social situations we pay back what we received from others. Most likely this principle was derived from the above scripture. The law of Reciprocity also states that when people receive something, they feel compelled to return the favor in kind. Apostle Paul links the promise of the harvest to times and seasons, and likens it to works of the flesh and the empowerment by the Spirit. An emphasis has been made in our labor in the spirit and continued good works; especially to the household of faith through love. The times we labor, pray and seek fruitfulness for extended seasons are not in vain, as the visitation of God’s grace will surely bear the long sort harvest. Psalms 1:3 reveals that, our walk of righteousness is likened to a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth fruit in its season and whose leaves never wither, and whatever we do prospers. God is not mocked, whatever each one sows, he/she will reap. Also, not everyone who call unto the Lord God will see the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of God our Father (Matthew 7:21). We are called to walk in faith and persevere under trial, and we shall receive the crown of life promised for all those who love the Lord (James 1:12).
PRAYER
We come to You Abba Father with repentant hearts, forgive us we humbly beseech You. We have sinned and fallen short of Your glory Lord, have mercy on us merciful Savior. We humbly come to Your feet asking for Your mercy, forgive us all our trespasses and heal our land. Deliver us from all the works of the flesh and help us to walk by the spirit. Heal our hearts from habitual sins, unforgiveness, fear, anxiety and all evil merciful Savior. Teach us to always do good to others for we are the salt and the light of the world. Guide us to walk faithfully to You and to always do good to those of the household of faith. Grant that we may love You Lord with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves. May You train our hearts to do Your will that we may find rest for our souls. We boldly come to Your throne of grace, grant us Your mercy and grace dear Jesus. We pray for all those who are sick and suffering that You may heal them and deliver them from all their troubles. Remember all those are in prison, the widows, orphans and all those who are homeless that You may touch them with Your righteous right hand. May You hear all our prayers and answer all our hearts desires according to Your will Jesus. You are our Righteous Judge Father, may You grant each one of us and our families eternal life. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Ecclesiastes 3:2
Acts 1:6-7
“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”
INSIGHT
-The disciples had a misconception of the messianic kingdom and thought that it was more political than spiritual. Like other Jews, they probably thought that Jesus would come to rebuild the Jerusalem temple among other political agendas. In His response, Jesus corrects their misconception and adjusts their perspective concerning the kingdom of God. He declares that the kingdom is currently spiritual in its character, international in membership, and gradual in expansion. Since the harvest is plentiful but the laborers few, we are called to proclaim the word of God in season and out of season, with all long-suffering and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2). In season probably to mean the times that the Holy Spirit is actively working through us. Out of season maybe to empathize that the word should be preached at all times, whether we are faced by suffering, discouragement, losses, pain, and other forms of persecution. We have been empowered differently, some are apostles, others prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, and edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). Also we are called to encourage and build up each other with love (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
PRAYER
Your word is upright Lord, and all Your work is done in faithfulness. Your word is light and gives understanding to the simple. Your word is truth that gives men the light of salvation. Your word is God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Guide us with Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding as we preach the gospel in season and out of season, online and offline, so that many people and nations may know You and come to You loving Jesus. May Your word impart all those who hear it including our leaders. May You choose for us a president whose heart is after Your heart dear Father, come next general elections. Our nation belongs to You Jesus, help us to dwell in peace and love with each other. Thank You for loving us and choosing us Abba Father. All glory, honor, power and praise belongs to You dear Jesus, now and forever. Amen.
Further reading: Matthew 24:14, John 17:17
Jeremiah 8:7
“Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.”
INSIGHT
–The stork, turtledove, swift and swallow are very intelligent birds that migrate through different seasons, mostly in search for food. The last three birds move from one continent to another at high speeds and long durations. According to Jeremiah, these birds discern the seasons but most people do not know the judgment of God.
SUMMARY
The turtledove is long-distance flying bird that migrates between its European breeding grounds and Africa’s vast Sahel belt. It flies mostly at night and can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h and covers 700 km without stopping. The swift routinely fly tens of kilometers, approximately 22,000 kilometers per year, from their nests mostly in search for food. Depending on the climatic season, the swift is keen to know when to breed and when to fend for food. Like it’s name suggests, the swift migrates at high speeds into diverse regions including cities, and colonizes many new environments. The swallow is similar in appearance to the swift but, varies in their migration patterns. While both species spend their summers in the United Kingdom, the swifts tend to migrate to Asia and China through the winter. Swallows on the other hand migrate to Africa, beginning this journey around late September, and fly through approximately 13,000 kilometers from the UK. They fly almost non-stop, and swallow plentiful of insects and flies during the journey. These are some of the intelligent birds that discern times and seasons. According to Jeremiah, they somehow understand their divine destinies, but God’s people do not know. According to Matthew 24:38-39, the story of Noah can be likened to the three birds. During the days of Noah before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day he entered the ark. They knew nothing was about to happen until the flood came and took them all away. This is how it will be during the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus is coming soon, we must be ready in all seasons and walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. Secondly, we are reminded that we will reap what we sow. If we sow peace we will reap peace, but if we sow hatred we will reap discord. Also it is important to sow during the right season so that we may receive our reward at the appointed time. Thirdly, as believers we have been called to preach the gospel in season and out of season, into all the nations as the Holy Spirit leads us. Fourthly, Habakkuk was instructed by God to make his vision plain on a paper so that many people and generations may read. As the Israelites read about the conquests by the Babylonians, which came to pass, Daniel noted its extended duration from the book of Jeremiah 25:11-12. Lastly, we are reminded that there are times and seasons for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
PRAYER
Abba Father our Lord and Creator, we love You. Thank You for loving us first. There is no other God but You, only You are our king and Savior. You deserve all the glory and praise Lord. We humbly ask You to reveal Yourself in our lives in a special way. May You open the eyes of our hearts that we may see You. Holy Spirit may You guide us in every area of our lives we humbly beseech You. May You forgive us all our trespasses and wash us with Your precious blood. May You deliver us from all works of the flesh and shepherd us in the spirit. May You remove every barricade and obstacle that may cause us pain or delay. May You fight for us every battle and level the mountains. May You answer all our prayers and hearts desires according to Your divine purpose. May You guide us into all truth and help us to always be ready for Your second coming dear Jesus. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in Your house Lord; forever. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine towards you and be gracious to You. May He shine His countenance towards You and give You peace. Amen
Further reading: Matthew 25:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:1, Luke 21:25