"Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter." Psalm 74:17

There are four seasons that govern the earth - summer, winter, spring and fall. 

They each have their distinct characteristics and they each have their turn. 

It is that way in our lives, there are these same four spiritual seasons that manifest at different times. 

The spring time is when everything is growing and new - prayers are being answered visibly, you are getting more insight and revelation into spiritual matters, the rain of the Spirit is falling upon you almost continually, etc. 

The summer season seems to be a little dryer - your prayers seem to take longer to be answered, getting into that place of refreshing seems to take more effort, you feel a little on the "dull" side. 

In the fall time things have a hint of color but everything feels as if it is going in reverse - the prayers that were answered now seem to be unraveling, you seem to be loosing the ground you had obtained, it feels as though you are making two steps forward and three steps back. 

The last season is winter. 
This is the one I want to focus on for a moment.

Winter is that time when everything looks dead. 
The leaves are gone, the trees are bare, the grass has lost its color, it is cold and dreary. 
The spiritual winter season looks and feels the same way. 
It feels as if there is no life, just deadness, your desire to pray and reach for spiritual things is gone. 
But just like the natural winters life is still there. 
Those trees are not dead though they appear to be, life is still in them. 

If you are in a winter season, don't get discouraged. 
While you may not see any sign of "life" it is there. 
It is in the time when we see nothing that we have to live by faith. 
Faith that your spirit is still alive and well. 
Faith that all is well. 
Faith that this time will pass, spring will come again and productivity is on the way. 
Faith that prayers are still being answered. 
Faith that there is something good in this season even though you can't see what it is at the moment.

Have a great day. 
Seasons come to our lives, even the winter season. 
Winter is the season when our faith is put to the test and has the greatest opportunity to grow. 

For further reading:
2 Timothy 4:2
Romans 1:17
 
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by
Lorraine Ezell from About the Master's Business
Ministry, Inc. Used with permission, feel free to
contact the author or visit her web site to thank her.