A Season of CONFIDENCE!! SUMMER!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Can you hear CONFIDENCE?!

It doesn’t take too much brain work to stir up a vision for SUMMER!A time of celebration, family time, and rest. In the summer we produce new adventures, we create, and we innovate. We almost always find a time in the summer to step out of our normal routines—somehow, somewhere. Summer is often a season of gatherings with family and friends, of traveling, of leisure and maybe long dreamed of vacations. It’s a season of warmth and just appreciating what God has done in our life.

I recall many wonderful summers in our life spent taking our kids up from Florida to where we now joyfully live in the north Georgia mountains as we often visited our favorite state parks. We have enjoyed the sweetness of many mountain cottages situated alongside bubbling mountain streams. I remember many summers of whitewater rafting and tubing, hiking up strenuous and sometimes scary mountain trails.

Spiritual summer often offers a time to step out of our comfort zone with optimism and faith and feel –

EXCITED

PASSIONATE

CURIOUS

Let’s pause today and focus word this week is CONFIDENT. (Please join me on  the permission to Pause Podcast for audio version of this post)

The spiritual season of summer opens a way for us to throw off everything that has been hindering us.

People, places, and things we’ve watched fall away in the Fall season.

Prayers of faith that we’ve silently waited to see come to life in the Winter season.

Blooms of hope we have seen sprout and begin to bloom in the season of Spring, are now bringing adventure and fruit in the spiritual season of summer.

Although as we considered in earlier posts—no season—neither physical nor spiritual is perfect—Winter can dump out heavy snowstorms. Spring can drop hurricane winds. And some summers can create long seasons of drought. Every season has its ups and downs, highs and lows. The key to peace, blessing, and experiencing the goodness of God is to acknowledge His LOVE and Omnipotence in EVERY SINGLE SEASON. He is always good. He is always working in our lives to complete the good work He began in us with our creation.

So today as you lift your hands towards heaven and tilt your head up towards the sky, close your eyes and thank God for whatever season you are experiencing right now.

You may want to go back and remind yourself of the other seasons we’ve discussed.

You will also find a FREE Spiritual Seasons Quiz on RIGHT HERE on my website, in the SHOP under Permission to Pause PODCAST Deeper Dive.

It has been such a joy to walk through these past five discussions, as we have looked at the spiritual seasons of our lives. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

I’d love to hear from you at patlayton@mac.com.

I’d be very honored for you to share Permission to Pause with a friend or family member and even especially blessed if you have just a few minutes to leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.

So, blessings to you friend.

Pat