God is in control of the seasons of our life.

05/04/25

Gospel Corner

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, AMPC

New Seasons
It’s important that we hold on to our dreams, that we keep standing in faith, but we also have to realize that God is in control of the seasons of our life. Sometimes you’ve been enjoying a fall harvest season, reaping some fruit for being faithful, enjoying the warmth of some relationships, prospering in your work. But then the season changes, and you come into winter. What was working so well stops. A relationship cools. You feel stuck in your job. If you’re stubborn, you try to force things back into the way it used to be, which only leads to frustration. Be open to what God is doing. Some of the things we’re worried about, losing sleep over, and trying to make work out are simply the hand of God changing the season. We don’t realize He is moving people out, making us uncomfortable, and pushing us into our purpose. He’s saying, “You had a good season, you enjoyed it, but to see the new things I have in store, that season is finished. Trust me with your new season.”

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You change the times and seasons of my life, and You know what is best for me. Thank You that You’re always working behind the scenes on my behalf. Help me to stay open to what You’re doing and not be stuck in the past season. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Our Lord Jesus came to reveal the name “Father.” Father speaks of family and of closeness and intimacy.

You can know God as Elyon, the Most High. As El Shaddai, God Almighty. As Yehovah, the Lord, the covenant-keeping God. As Elohim, mighty Creator of the heavens and the earth.

Every name is so significant as each one reveals a wonderful aspect of our God. But when you know God as Father, all His virtues, attributes, and power work for you to set you on high and deliver you.

Our Lord Jesus prayed, “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are” (John 17:11).

The Greek word for “keep” here is the word tereo, which means to attend to carefully, to take care of, to guard, to watch, and to preserve. What is the name through which you will be kept guarded and protected? FATHER.

Beloved, I want you to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have a heavenly Father who loves you, who gave up His all for you, and who is vigilantly watching over you!

He is your Father. Your Daddy. Your Abba.

That is the name by which He wants you to call Him. When my son, Justin, has a nightmare, he doesn’t call out, “Pastor Prince!” He just cries out, “Abba!” and I am there, ready to take on any monsters hiding under his bed.

In the same way, you can have complete assurance that when you call upon your Father, He will answer you. You can have full confidence in your Father’s protection and deliverance for you and your family, not because of your love for Him, but because of His love for you.