Spring is one of my favorite transitions of the year in Minnesota. It represents a miraculous awakening from the slumber of clouded winter into a refreshment of life and more daylight from sunlight. The days get progressively warmer as winter and spring play tug-of-war for what the day will bring; snow, rain, blizzard and/or a record high all within the same 24-hour period. LOL! Some of you may look forward to fall as your favorite time of year.

In general, we never know what type of weather a day will bring but we know that there is an established baseline of expectation of spring being the warmup to summer, fall being the cooldown for winter. It’s the transition that creates instability because it doesn’t always happen smoothly or quickly. Sometimes winter weather hangs on until May and then jumps with suddenness into summer season and we’re unprepared.

Why? We were focused on the weather we were in and not the season we’re expecting. So the summer clothes were still packed away, the boat was still in storage, the spring cleaning didn’t happen, and the garden didn’t get tilled because we were focused on the weather that we were experiencing and not the season that was promised by the Creator in Genesis 8:22:

While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.

He promised two seasons, winter and summer, and the transitions into both are unpredictable but necessary (spring and fall). In life we move through seasons as well (spiritually and naturally), which also means that we experience unpredictable transitions. But I believe that the key to navigating seasons and transitions in a healthy way is found in Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.

And looking to and trusting in “he Most-High God in every season through every transition lends itself to us being successful saints in every season. 

~Bishop AZ Jones, Jr.

Shepherding was one of the earliest human occupations. A family’s wealth was measured by how many sheep, goats, cows, horses, camels, and/or asses a man owned. Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David were all shepherds. Before David fought Goliath, he told Saul, Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck and killed it. (I Samuel 17:34-35 NIV).

It was the shepherd’s responsibility to count each animal in order to make sure none had gone astray. At night, sheep were kept in simple enclosures, in caves, or within walls made from bushes. At times, the shepherd would sleep with his body lying across the gate to the enclosure in order to keep the sheep safe. Though Israel’s religious leaders were also referred to as shepherds, they were often chided for their failure to watch over the flock of God. Both then and now, Yahweh Roeh is the one true Shepherd of His people.

Source: Spangler, A. (2023) Praying the Names of God For 52 Weeks, Expanded Edition HarperChristian Resources.

You’ve poured that cup of coffee and have it arranged just right. The first rays of morning sunlight are gently spilling across the pages of your Bible. A set of highlighters and quill pens lay ready to do their work. This is your quiet time. Or at least this is how you envisioned it in your head the night before, right? The truth is, your daily Bible intake probably looks more like mine: You rush in after your morning workout and try to remember where you left off (was it yesterday or the day before?), as you wolf down a breakfast bar and pour coffee into your travel mug.

You are reading your Bible for a few reasons: First, you feel bad because you didn’t do it yesterday. Second, your pastor just guilted you on Sunday for not reading it enough. Third—, and most importantly—,you desire to learn more about Jesus and hear Him speak to you.

As we approach our quiet time with the Lord, the temptation is to expect the perfectly photographed versions we see in social media posts or the devotions we imagine our pastor having. But in reality, the discipline of reading the Word of God is less about what we get out of it and more about surrendering as we “listen” to the text. So here are some tips, from a disciple in process, about ways we should approach our daily Bible reading:

Come ready to listen. We live in an age when it’s hard to really listen. We are so easily distracted by the notifications on our phone, then flashing lights of the social media world. We’re tempted to say something pithy and then press send, tweet, or publish. But the very act of reading devotionally is to submit ourselves to the Bible—setting aside our own desire to speak and act in order to be shaped by the words of God. We need to see the Bible not simply as content to consume, but as the sovereign Lord of the universe speaking to us with power.

Lower your expectations. Yes, you read that right. Too often we approach our devotional time expecting to have some life-altering insight that will permanently change the trajectory of our lives, for a halo to appear on our heads and a Hallelujah chorus to play in the background while we read. But most days, our Bible study is rather pedestrian. The purpose is not to go away with a nugget but to let the living Word of God wash over us afresh.

Know that you may not understand it all. Some passages will be pretty straightforward. Others will require a bit more study. But when reading, don’t get bogged down in trying to exegete the entire section as if you are presenting a paper to the Evangelical Theological Society. Instead, read the passage, let it roll around in your heart and mind, and pray that the Lord opens your eyes to the true intent of the text.

Ask yourself questions. Finding ways to apply our daily reading to our family, coworker, or friend is easy. But we should come to the text asking questions: What does this passage say about God? What sin and idolatry does this uncover in my own heart? What specific action could I take that would draw me toward Jesus and away from selfishness?

The good news about a listening approach to Scripture is that it frees us from the tyranny of hearing our own voice and allows us to surrender to another voice: the voice of the Father, who knows infinitely more about our own hearts than we do. In this, we may or may not find pithy quotes for social media—but we will discover something even more satisfying than projecting our own piety: a God who speaks.

Source: intouch.org/read/articles/thisrevelation-may-not-be-instagrammed

You are meant to face challenges, even difficulties, where you must make important decisions, so that you can grow and develop in your relationship with God. It’s during these trying times that the spirit gives you a sustaining power of faith. It’s times of uncertainty that allow you to exercise your faith in new ways so that you will be strengthened for the journey ahead.

It’s through the times where you’re not sure what to do and you can’t understand that you are to seek God with all that you are. And He is your shepherd, leading you, loving you, throughout your journey of life. But it’s in the wilderness moments, when you feel absolutely, utterly alone that you will learn to trust in Him more and learn of His willingness to provide help when you’re in need, no matter how challenging your circumstances.

He’ll use this time when your faith is fighting through doubt to bring you into His quietness and help you to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit leading you. If you will continue to seek God’s help, you’ll develop a faith that is sure and unshakable, powerful and uplifting...a divine force in your life.

And in sincere faith, you must have strength and understanding in accepting the will of the Father when it is different than your own. The times of testing your faith are for building your character. And it’s the building of your character that will enable you to fully exercise the power of faith to bring about the peace and contentment you so desperately need... no matter what lies ahead.

Source: Hill, Cherie. A Journey with Jesus: Trusting Jesus Amidst the Storms of Life and Experiencing the Perfect Peace of His Presence. Christian Art Publishers, 2022.

ALI, formally the Community Equity Crash Course, is back! This condensed version of the Community Equity Program is a 4-session intensive political and advocacy leadership program designed for advocates, allies, community members, and those just interested in learning about the political process.

The program equips participants with the necessary tools to engage meaningfully with the Minnesota legislative process and ensure that Capitol policies reflect their needs and those of their community. Spread the word, applications for ALI will be available in a few weeks.

If you or someone you know is interested, please email: CEP@wilder.org to receive a link to the application and for answers to any inquiries.