IT IS ONE THING to understand your season; it is another to know how to work it.
The sons of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32).
However, the sons of the prophets understood their season when the axe head fell, but they did not know what to do (2 Kings 6:5-7).
So, they called on Elisha, who knew what to do.
WORKING your season will depend on what you know and do not know.
So, how do you work your season?
Acquire Knowledge
THE SONS of Issachar had acquired knowledge. When people came calling, they were able to advise.
The School of the Prophets was set up partly to pass knowledge from generation to generation (1 Sam. 10:5).
THE YEARS of adversity Joseph faced were full of experiences in which he learnt to lead.
He was in charge of Portiphar's house. In prison, he supervised his mates.
Then, he became the second-in-command in Egypt (Gen. 38:3-10; 41:41).
See a man diligent in his work; he will stand before kings, but not before mere men (Prov. 22:29).
DAVID worked his season using his skills. He had the grace to worship.
Whenever he played the harp, the demon tormenting the king left, and he was refreshed (1 Samuel 16:23).
He also used the sling well. When he faced Goliath, he employed this skill and killed him (1 Sam. 17:50-53).
WHATEVER field of endeavour you're in, you need to have sufficient knowledge to not only do what you do but to do it with excellence.
Understand your season
FOR THE EARTH yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain in the head.
But he immediately puts in the sickle when the grain ripens because the harvest has come. (Mark 4:28)
The farmer does not remove the sickle when it's just the blade. He brings it out during the harvest.
Understanding gives you the responsibility to work your season.
Honour your season
You honour your season by not looking down on days of small beginnings (Zech. 4:10).
WHEN RUTH stayed back with Naomi, it seemed there was nothing in it for her (Ruth 1:16).
But she saw grace over Naomi's life and willingly built her future on a mother-in-law who saw nothing in herself.
Ruth did right when things went wrong.
ONAN despised his season.
It was the culture of the Jews to give widows to their husbands' brothers to have children.
Onan knew that the child would not be his, so whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother.
What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight, so the Lord put him to death ( Gen. 38:9-10).
You honour your season by doing God's Will.
Put good systems and structures in place.
THIS APPROACH may be as simple as teaching your children how to do things or as big as pouring your life into people.
When Abraham learnt that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he assembled 318 men to battle (Gen. 14:14).
While the men rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, those who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other (Neh. 4:17).
Nehemiah and Abraham had systems and structures in place to build and battle.
Work it faithfully—stop working it only when you're excited.
IT'S EASY to praise God on the mountaintop but not in the valley.
But the psalmist says: I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will continually be in my mouth (Ps. 34:11).
You cannot love him when things are exciting and hate him when things are tough.
God wants you to pray and worship Him.
Have the fear of God.
THE TWO Hebrew midwives would not kill the male children because they feared the Lord (Exod. 1:17).
They knew that they would be going against the plans and purposes of God.
Bringing it Together
HOW YOU handle your season will determine what you get out of it.
If you're going to work your season as intended, you must learn to have God author anything you do.
Enjoy the week ahead.