Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:1-2 NIV)
Happy Spring!
I realize I’m a bit late in tell you this, as last Friday was the first official day of spring, but my good wishes are genuine.
On Friday the sun came out here in a way that was bright, warm, and encouraging. It was as if nature were reminding us that, yes, there is a season for everything under heaven, and, yes, winter would not last forever. As we watched the four inches of snow we received earlier in the week recede to just wet spots on the grass and muddy potholes, it was as if we could see the grip of winter finally weaken. For me, the arrival of the first housefly was proof that, yes, spring was indeed here.
This has been a challenging winter for me, personally. Starting with loss and death, moving through months of deep snow and dreary cloudiness, and struggling under spiritual and emotional storms, I am relieved that at least we will be seeing the sunshine more often. It reminds us that no matter the personal storm, the Middle East conflict, the political upheaval, the medical issue, the relationship strain, or whatever else — GOD IS FAITHFUL and will never leave us for forsake us.
You’ve probably had some sort of a decision to make that might be something like “is now the right time to do this?” Prayerful people will ask God questions so that they can understand the times and seasons we are in. I was reading a new chapter about discerning time in Jane Hamon’s Discernment book. She describes the four Greek words for time that appear in the New Testament. Aion refers to the eternal nature of God and his perspective on time. Chronos is our normal, everyday time – days, weeks, months, and seasons. Kairos is a specific or opportune space of time that God has determined for his favor or when heaven and earth converge. Hora is a specific instant or “now” of God, including times for miracles. To attempt a metaphor – if aion were all of nature and chronos was the colorful beauty of the sky, then kairos would be a time of especially lovely colors in the sky, potentially broken by the flash of the “fireworks” of hora.
I’ve never thought of time needing different words or descriptors, but it makes sense to me. I see the time of my life as being a small part of God’s aion – eternal understanding. Within my chronos life are regular days, weeks, months, years, and seasons. Yet, within those are smaller kairos seasons where I have accelerated spiritual growth or other instances of heaven converging with my life. And, within those kairos times are holy moments of a “flash” of God’s revelation to me.
Today, let us rejoice in the faithfulness of God who orchestrates all the times and seasons of our lives. Let us be aware of the different types of time in our lives and who God speaks in each of thoes. And let us seek him for an understanding of the times we live in.
Lord,
You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Thank you for your faithfulness, the seasons you have set up, and that all time is under your lordship. Help us to hear your Voice within us, to discern the times we are living in, and to move accordingly. Show us your ways, O Lord. Teach us your paths and guide us in your ways for time everlasting. We ask this in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)