Season of Change

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… he breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring! Psalm 147:18journal header10journal header10journal header10journal header10

journal header10After many years of pondering and prayer I have finally discovered that spring is my most favorite season of all!

Just like cultivating an earthly garden, getting your knees deep in mud in your prayer garden will take lots of work; as you loosen and yank out weeds, unearth heavy obstacles and till hardened areas of your heart soil. But it will insure growth and armloads at harvest time. Yes it is a lot of work – necessary work, but the fruit is worth it.

Whether you have been through a cold winter or not, the season of spring brings newness of life – new beginnings – a time to let go of some things and start over – a deeper commitment – deeper roots – a greater harvest and a changed life!

It’s really quite miraculous …

… he breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring! Psalm 147:18

Spring is a perfect time to begin a journal specifically used to cultivate the soil of your heart. I like to call this my Heart Journal.

Proverbs 4:23 says, Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. NLT

Here I check in with God – from time to time to make sure my heart is right before Him. This is a private place between God and myself. Keeping a heart journal is not about digging up all of your dirt. It is about allowing the Master Gardener, God, to interact with you, convicting you, encouraging you and revealing those things that are holding you from reaching your destiny.

A Heart Journal is,

A Place to Hear from God:

  • Get new directives for change
  • Listen for the conviction of the Holy Spirit
  • Be encouraged and
  • Get new direction for your life.

A Place to Cultivate your Heart:

  • Pull weeds of sin and the flesh
  • Remove hardened areas
  • Pull strongholds
  • Get ready to plant, water and expect a harvest.

A Place to Take a Deep Look at Relationships:

  • Are there weeds of offense?
  • Have you hurt anyone or have they hurt you?
  • Is there unforgiveness or bitterness?
  • Are you hanging on to unhealthy relationships?
  • Who have you neglected?
  • What seed is God asking you to plant into the lives of others?
  • How?

A Time to Simplify your Life:

  • What is no longer necessary?
  • Just how busy are you?
  • How much time have you allotted for the Master Gardener?
  • Do you have time for your family? Why or why not?
  • What can you let go of?

A Time to Get Ready for the Next Season of Life:

  • How is God leading you?
  • Where is He taking you?
  • What can you do to be ready?
  • What seed does He want you to plant for the upcoming season?

I don’t know about you but I am EXPECTING a huge harvest. Join me on your knees – and let’s pray for harvest hands;  prayer hands that dig deep, pull weeds, plant seeds and water them with believing, persevering faith!

On your knees and pray for harvest hands!” Matthew 9:38 MSG

PRAY

Father, what ever it takes! I know that this change begins with my heart. Show me any weeds of sin or strongholds that need to be pulled. Are any hardened areas in my heart? I desire the soil of my heart to be soft so that your Word will take root and produce a huge bountiful harvest. As I yank out weeds, show me what seeds to plant, in Jesus Name, Amen.

… In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. James 1:21 MSG

You Plant and God Brings the Growth

A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall. Proverbs 20:4 NLT
And now, God, do it again— bring rains to our drought-stricken lives So those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing. Psalm 126:4-6 MSG

I am so looking forward to LAUGHING, with ARMLOADS of Blessings. Won’t you join me my friend?

XOXO Debra

Need extra tools to learn how to cultivate your heart? Check out heART mag and Mud On My Knees