The Spiritual Year

“Bringeth forth his fruit in his season” — Vs. i. 3.

There are four seasons in thy spiritual year — the winter of desolation; the buds of spring, which tell of hope; the warmth of summer, which bespeaks the fulness of the heart; and the ingathering of autumn, which is the time for life’s practical fruits. Each season has its fruit, and the fruit is in its turn golden. Do not seek to change the order of God’s spiritual year, do not seek to put the fruits of one season into the lap of another. Thou must not expect the buds of spring from the desolation of winter, for desolation is the fruit of winter; thou, like Nicodemus, must begin thy journey in the sense of night — night without a star. Thou must not expect the warmth of summer from the buds of spring, for the fruit of spring is not fruition but hope; thou, like Peter, must be content for a time to live on aspiration alone. Thou must not expect the practical ingathering of autumn from the warmth of summer, for the fruit of summer is not action but emotion; thou, like John, must be content to lie on the Master’s bosom until thy time to work for Him shall come.

0 Thou that hast revealed the order of Thine acceptable year, reveal in my experience the stages of that year. Help me to gather the fruits of each season as good and perfect gifts from Thee. When I feel the sense of night, let me accept it as the token that, like

Nicodemus, I am coming to Thee. When I feel the sense of hope, let me accept it as the sign that, like Peter, I am called by Thee. When I feel the sense of warmth, let me accept it as the evidence that, like John, I rest on Thee. When I feel the sense of power and am inspired to gather in the fruits, let me accept it as the pledge that I am bidden, like Paul, to work for Thee. So shall my year be rounded, hallowed, perfected. So shall my life be girt about with Thee. The snows of its winter shall be sanctified, the buds of its spring shall be fostered, the foliage of its summer shall be blest, the first-fruits of its autumn shall be hailed with joy; they shall proclaim that within my soul the year of the Lord has come.