Each season has a unique beauty you can reflect on, if you care to look for it. This beauty is like a sweeping symphony, and its melody intertwines with the changes of nature. In the same way, the Bible tells us that life is made up of seasons, that each come with their own beauty and promises, if we will recognize them.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, "For everything there is a season..." And verse 11 says that the Lord has "made everything beautiful in its time." We all experience the summer of heat and growth, the fall of preparation, the winter of dying, and the spring of resurrection. Each season can bring with it a deeper life if we open our hearts to the lessons within them. It's vital that we ask ourselves, "Which season am I in today?" This enables us to thrive spiritually, no matter what lies ahead. As we come to understand these seasonal rhythms, we can appreciate life more deeply, cherishing each unique moment as if it was our last.
Here I want to examine what I believe God is saying prophetically to His beloved Bride through each of the seasons.
Autumn
As the summer heat wanes, crisp fall days bring colorful autumn leaves that catch the breeze and eventually cover the ground. During this season, we are reminded that we reap what we sow. From a spiritual perspective, this time-honored adage holds true: If we have done the hard work in faith, we will, in due season, reap great rewards. Just as harvesting vegetables from a garden requires diligent preparation and labor, so does harvesting from our spiritual walk through this life.
We find solace in Galatians 6:9, as it encourages us not to lose courage when times become challenging; for when harvest time comes, we will be rewarded for our perseverance during times of affliction. As we watch the changing of the seasons, we can glean new meaning.
Prophetic application:
"Even a tree has more hope! If it is cut down, it will sprout again and grow new branches." (Job 14:7)
"They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest." (Psalms 107:37)
I hear the Lord declare: "Even as the autumn appears and you feel like all is lost, I am here with you to encourage and revive your weary soul. You see, it is in this very season of autumn that the fullness of My redemptive love will be made manifest through Me and scent My beloved Bride. Even as the leaves change color and fall, you will be transformed into a brilliant beacon of light on a hillside, shining brightly—even in midst of darkness and adversity.
"All that My Bride has sown in My Spirit, in her secret season, shall come to fruition. Though she may not understand fully now, her due season of rewards will surely come. Therefore, hold steady, My cherished Bride; your due season is upon you!"
Winter
In winter, the bare branches on the trees fall into a deep slumber beneath a pristine coat of powdery snow, while the pale light of the moon bathes them in its gentle glow. With the arrival of spiritual winter comes the manifest Presence, inviting us to go deeper and realize that life has much more to offer than the hustle and bustle of everyday life. (Photo via PickPik)
Through hibernation, buried beneath layers of frosty, white snow, we find a prime opportunity to reflect upon our mistakes, evaluate our decisions from a fresh perspective, and look ahead with greater clarity toward the future.
Winter can be a teacher in many respects, handing us an invitation to examine ourselves and let God strip away the dead things to produce beautiful, new fruit. In this place, we can appreciate the deeper things, rather than what we see on the surface.
Prophetic application:
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater." (Isaiah 55:10)
I hear the Lord declare: "In the winter season, My blazing, divine presence may seem far away; but never fear or feel alone, My darling, for I am still near! The quiet of the winter provides a special place for introspection to examine your heart and motives, and gives Me the opportunity to work inside you so that when people look at you, they see Me.
"This time can be challenging, but it allows for inner growth to take place that couldn't have happened any other way. Hold steady, My Bride. With determination, discipline and strength, you will be able to make it through those cold winter days. After enduring this season, you will emerge shining like an unmistakable beacon of light, equipped with words of prophetic wisdom, as well as instructions from Me on what to do next."
Spring
The season of spring is my personal favorite—the time when things that seem dead and brown begin to show new growth and bloom again. Suddenly, the scent of spring is in the air—you can almost taste it, can't you? As the sun rises each new morning, I bask in its rays, watching the flowers budding and listening to the joyful songs of birds. These things stir something deeper inside, filling me with great joy and new inspiration. Spring speaks not only to exterior changes, but transformation within.
Seeing God's presence in every ray of sunshine, with each sprout reaching toward tomorrow, brings a sense of peace that only He can give.
Prophetic application:
"For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)
Hear the word of the Lord: "Spring is upon us, and I want it to remind you of the affection that I have for My people—a completely devoted and passionate love. I eagerly await the arrival of My beloved Bride, inviting her to join Me, so she can share My unfailing love. I am sending My rain to refresh her.
"Despite any difficulties she may face, I promise to restore it all. Barrenness has passed and dead things are sprouting back to life. It is only by meeting Me in the secret place that you can discover true beauty in the barren season—beauty which is found only in My presence.
"I want nothing more than to walk hand in hand with My Bride in the garden of intimacy. There the birds sing joyfully as this new season begins, and God's love covers the land with His beloved's voice of praise—a beautiful heart-to-heart conversation between Bride and Bridegroom. (Photo via Pixabay)
Summer
Summer can be the perfect time to experience the deeper meaning of life. When the warm sunshine is upon us, we witness the glory of God's creation, and it serves as a reminder of how the Lord blesses us with abundance. The book of Ecclesiastes amplifies this thought, reminding us that summer is a season of harvesting the fruits of our labor, as well as bringing in that harvest. By taking the extra time during this season, we can nurture our spiritual growth and plant the seeds for the future.
Summer can be a special season to seek God's face, meditating on Scripture, thinking deeply on its meaning, or simply enjoying precious times in prayer. As we do such things, He will reveal His heart and share His secrets and the revelations that only come from being in His presence.
Prophetic application:
"Don't stare at me because I am dark—the sun has darkened my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards, so I couldn't care for myself—my own vineyard." (Song of Solomon 1:6)
The Lord says, "Dear Beautiful Bride, in this season of summer, I say to you: While others may become weary of enduring the heat and prolonged dryness, do not forget to come to Me—the source of living water. Though your heart may feel parched and thirsty, I offer an oasis of refreshment. Instead of quenching your thirst with water that doesn't satisfy, let Me fill you up with spiritual food and living waters so that you will be continually refreshed. If you take time to pause and savor this refreshing flow from My deep wells, your soul will bloom like a garden nurtured by its life-sustaining supply.
"Care for the fields around you, but don't neglect to take time to drink from My deep wells. Then, when summer ends, you'll come out from it gloriously refreshed as My beloved, beautiful Bride!"
Final Thoughts
Allow your current season to gracefully come and go without trying to rush it. We may not understand why certain seasons last longer than others, or why we sometimes struggle, but our good Father always has a purpose in all His plans. Through every trial and hardship, He builds our character, if we let Him work. Just like the day is balanced with the night, there are times when we must endure to bring balance back into our lives. It can be challenging to accept when the circumstances make no sense, but Paul's words bless us with just the right amount of heartwarming encouragement. With confidence, he said, "...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11).
In Autumn, as the days grow shorter and the leaves dance in the breeze, pause to remember the hidden wisdom of each passing season. And when the winter comes and things seem bleak, remember that spring is just around the corner. As long as we're alive, we will all experience seasons of one kind or another. The key is to trust God to be with us as He takes us through each one!
Whatever you do, don't miss another ELIJAH LIST email! Subscribe at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Steve Porter
Refuge Ministries
Email:Â G524walk@yahoo.com
Website:Â www.findrefuge.tv
Steve and Diane Porter have dedicated their lives to helping others experience a deeper relationship with God. Through their work with Refuge Ministries and Deeper Life Press, they have created resources that touch lives all over the globe. Steve has a special anointing to bring forth the deep truths of the Spirit, and his books, articles, and videos have helped people draw closer to God. The Porters live near Rochester, NY, and their greatest joy is to share the incredible love of their wonderful Lord.
To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List at this link: elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Find us on:
* Facebook click here
* XAPiT click here
Now that's wisdom! God wants us to take in the journey through all seasons of life... He is continually causing us to flourish and grow in all of His plans and purposes. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List 
