Release

​One small, withered leaf hangs on to a thin, curved branch on the Maple tree outside my door.  It will not release and battles as the wind is relentless in shaking it violently.  It should have released in the fall to accomplish its intended purpose—to fall and lie at the base of the tree where it would have joined the other leaves and soil to provide compost for the roots. When a leaf decomposes it goes into the ground and provides nutrients that can be taken in by the tree roots.  It is meant to give strength and health to the tree so that it can produce new, green leaves when spring arrives—a new season.
 
Why doesn't the leaf release?  Why doesn't it recognize that the season has changed, and that God has a new purpose for it?  As for the leaf, God has set times and seasons for us. Every season comes to us with blessings and opportunities to grow in our faith and trust in God.  The enemy does not want us to live in the right season or to obtain the Lord's blessings for our lives.  We must wait upon the Lord and learn to think the way He thinks.  We must let His truth transform us so that we fully release from one season and launch into the new one.  Romans 12:2 is an appropriate Scripture to look at concerning our way of thinking.  The Passion Translation of this verse ministers to me:  "Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think.  This will empower you to discern God's will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes." 
 
In the book, A Time to Advance, Robert Heidler writes, "Blessing comes to those who align themselves with God's purposes and timing.  God's cycles produce change and bring us to the higher level of blessing."  We cannot step into blessing without following God's timing.  He designed our lives to have seasons.  There are set times for us to actively participate in God-given activities; there are times for us to rest, and there are times for us to prepare for a new season.  Doing this requires that we trust in our Creator and Sustainer to give us what we need for each season.  The leaf will not fulfill its divine purpose until it releases from the branch.
 
In Isaiah 43:18-19 God says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."  How can we let go?  Only by trusting in the Lord and His great love for us.  We can expect God's best for us because He already gave His best to us:  the sacrifice of His one and only Son, Jesus, so that we can have eternal life with Him.  We can trust in the Lord's best for ourselves, the Body of Christ, and our nation.  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes." (Romans 8:28)
 
Daniel 7 speaks of the end times and the evil king who will subdue other rulers.  This demonically- possessed king "will speak against the Most High and oppress His holy people and try to change the set times and laws." (Verse 25)  The enemy will lose his battle to change the set times because God already ordained the hour of his destruction.  Galatians 4 also speaks of another set time for us to become children of God and heirs according to His promise.  "But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." (Galatians 4:4-5)
 
The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  God changes seasons and sets times for all of us.  We must trust Him with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.  In all our ways we should acknowledge Him, and He will make our paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  This requires us to be willing to release from the past season and to inquire of God about His plans for the new season.  As it says in Romans 12:2, we will be empowered to discern God's will when we allow and invite the Holy Spirit to reform our way of thinking.  Let's release from the old season and walk into the new with the Lord's guidance.