By: Joyce Picker
Friday, September 22, 2023 is officially the first day of Fall on the calendar. This means many different things to folks depending on where you live. For me, Fall is my favorite time of year, maybe because I was born in the Fall. I just love the pumpkin farms and warm apple cider and breaking out the sweaters.
Psalm 85:12 says “The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield it’s harvest.”
The Biblical Feast of Sukkot is an agricultural Fall Feast. It is so significant spiritually. It commands us to honor the harvest. It can also refer to the time of year when something was planted and now we can see the effects of it. Has it grown with the care it was rendered? The same applies to us as people. We must be careful what we plat and water and nurture.
Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.” Even though seasons come and go and the earth changes, it reminds us that life is fleeting but God is eternal and unchanging.
I truly believe that when the leaves change and the weather grows cooler, many people think of Fall as a time of renewal. It’s a time for a fresh start, to set new goals and make plans for the future. The Scriptures offer several powerful reminders that Fall is a time of new beginnings.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” This reminder comes just as we are transitioning from summer to fall, and it is a good reminder that every season has its own purpose. Just as winter brings rest and renewal, Fall is a time when we can start fresh and focus on new goals.
The book of Isaiah tells us that “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” This promise is especially relevant during the autumn months, when we may be facing new challenges. Whatever our circumstances may be, we can trust that God will give us the strength we need to face them. As we enjoy the beauty of Fall, let us also remember that it is a time for new beginnings.
Fall is a beautiful season that can remind us of how much our Heavenly Father cares for us. May your time spent in His Word this fall be rich and rewarding, as you grow in your relationship with Him.
As you study these scriptures, may you be encouraged and reminded of the promises of God. May your autumn be filled with His love, peace, and joy.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
James 5:7-8 “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
Genesis 8:22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Deuteronomy 11: 13-15 “So if you faithfully obey the commands, I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.”
Psalm 84:5-6 “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”
Joel 2:23 “Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”
Jeremiah 5:24-25 “They do not say to themselves, Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’ Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.”
As we head into the Fall season, let’s remember to embrace the opportunities for new beginnings that come with it. Let’s also be intentional about setting aside time to rest and reflect so that we can refresh our spirits and prepare for what God has in store for us in the coming year. What are some things you want to start or do differently this Fall?
Remember, Yom Teruah (The Jewish New Year) is September 16, 2023 which is the New Year 5784. What a wonderful time to reflect on what’s ahead for us as Believers.
Let’s be thankful for all the Lord has done for us today and for the next year.
Father, thank you for New Beginnings. Let us approach this Fall with hearts full of Thanksgiving and praise. We bless you for our lives, our families and for our friends. We thank you for your hand on them and for guiding them into paths of righteousness. Thank you for a NEW BEGINNING. Amen.
Please take a look at our other blogs on the website. We pray they minister to you wherever you are. We are coming up on the Fall Feasts of the Lord. take a look at some of the past Blog Teachings which explain what the Feasts of the Lord are and how relevant they are today.
Scripture is quoted from the Tree of Life version.