In the northern climates, September is a transition period. The late grasses and plants appear and begin to bloom; Chicory and Queen Anne’s Lace for example. The leaves on the trees are no longer waxy and bright, but dull and drooping soon to become aflame with color. The thistles are also in bloom with their beautiful but prickly purple flora and while the world here is still green, there’s a certain weariness and fatigue to all of nature.
It’s inevitable; winter is coming.
For me, winter is a welcome sight because I love the change of the seasons and just as soon as you grow weary of one, it’s time for another. The first buds in the spring are as welcome to me as the first snowfall that coats the landscape in its clean, white beauty.
For you, it may not be winter, but summer which is on the horizon. Perhaps you prefer the present season better and do not welcome the change. No matter. It will change, because change is inevitable.
“You cannot step into the same river twice”
Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 535 – c. 475 BC)
The stoic philosopher Heraclitus knew this when he noticed that as soon as he stepped into the river, his “footprint” was gone, forever moving downstream and away from him. You and I are immortal beings trapped in a mortal body. Our souls – the very essence of who we are – will live forever (we just have to figure out what our forwarding address will be). And thank goodness for change because eternity with God in heaven has more to offer than we can ever imagine (1 Cor 2:9) and all we have to do is wait for it!
Well…wait for it and stay out of trouble while doing so.
But are you already in trouble? Don’t worry, because while there is still time, you can change. Do you have addictions? Bad habits? Change them while there’s still time.
“But John… change is difficult”
I know, but while changing multiple things at once is hard to do, changing small things, one at a time, is easier. For example, do you want to quit smoking, drinking, overeating and swearing? For most, the surest way to fail is to try stopping all of them at once. Instead, replace them one at a time with something else. Let’s say for instance, you start with smoking. Replace one cigarette/pipe/vape or cigar per day.
What can you replace it with?
How about prayer?
Every time the urge comes up to smoke, perhaps repeat Psalm 23:1 (“The Lord is my shepherd”). Want to replace swearing? Every time you cuss, replace it with “Forgive me Father” or the “Glory Be” prayer. The point is simple, just as Peter called out to Jesus as he began to sink into the water, why not do the same.
Need other examples?
- Romans 10:13 states, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved,” linking the act of calling directly to spiritual deliverance.
- Psalm 145:18 states “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
- Jeremiah 33:3 says “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
- Psalm 50:15 declares, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, thou shalt glorify me.”
God wants progress, not perfection. Is all of this a new concept to you? Have you not tried this before? Good!
God loves to show off, especially to those who only recently discovered Him. So in that case, give it a try; after all, what do you have to lose?