January 29
Verse of the Day for January 29
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
The Key of Beginnings · Day 29 of 31
Reflection · 3 min read
A Time To Every Purpose
The list that follows this verse is famous and is usually read as poetry about life's variety. Read in context it is doing something harder than that.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
The pairs that follow are not all pleasant. A time to kill, a time to break down, a time to lose, a time to cast away. The Preacher is not describing a balanced life; he is describing one you do not control.
Which lands strangely in the middle of a month about building habits. A habit is an attempt to impose regularity on time. Ecclesiastes says the seasons are already appointed and not by you.
Both are true, and holding them together is the discipline. Build the practice. Hold the timetable loosely. The season you are actually in may not be the one you planned for.
Build the practice.Hold the timetable loosely.
A rigid plan meeting an unexpected season usually breaks the person rather than the plan.
Ask what season you are actually in, and let the practice fit it rather than fighting it.
Carry this today
Are you building for the season you are in or the one you wanted?
Pray
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Keep praying
Reflection by Collins Asein, from the daily devotionals in the PrayerKey app. Bible text: King James Version.