Winter Planting Season...

Shorter days and colder, even frigid temperatures in some areas, can lead to boredom or depression due to lack of sunshine and physical activity.

When I see the sun go down and the stars come out, I feel like putting on pajamas, grabbing a snack and watching a movie, and it’s not even six o’clock!

If I put on enough indoor lights, I can trick my mind into thinking it’s still light outside.

However, it doesn’t have to be that way if we learn to seek the Lord’s advice and enjoy each season as we prepare for the next one.

I live in a region that gets a fair bit of cold and snow, so as a writer, the long winter months could be a benefit if I spent all that extra time indoors, doing research and scribbling out the first draft for my next book.

Unfortunately I’m a procrastinator, and having too much time on my hands doesn’t always work to my advantage with my writing habits.

I seem to be more inspired to write when I have a full "to do" list. I think it may be that while I’m doing those other tasks, my mind wanders around looking for clues or bits of interesting information that I can use to develop my story and characters.

It can be something as simple as going out to buy dish soap, but my mind envisions a soap factory explosion and what a bubbling mess that must look like when the firemen spray a ton of water on it.

So I have to find a way to keep occupied in a productive way, if I’m going to get the full benefit of this winter planting season.

The things we put our efforts into will produce the good harvest we need in the next season if we plant the correct seeds.

What I mean by that is that we sometimes make a plan and a “to do” list to carry out that plan. But is that God’s plan for us, or did we just decide what we want and proceed without His blessing? Don’t get me wrong. Being able to put your seed ideas on paper and start to make them happen is good, but including a consultation with the Lord will yield better results.

I had been a little anxious after taking a break from writing for a few months, but the Holy Spirit let me know that I should get my house in order and invest my time and energy in myself for a while. In my case that meant to work on several things like my finances, and my health, as I’m preparing for knee replacement surgery next season. So that is exactly what I have been doing and with the Lord’s help, I’m seeing some good results!

Last week I knew it was time to start writing again.

I had lots of ideas worked out in my head, but I just could not find time to sit down and write them out, because of all the procrastinating I still had to do.

I really wanted to get my first draft on my computer but that desire seemed to be outweighed by watching cat videos.

Surely I’m disciplined enough to stick to a daily writing schedule right? Nope!

So I made a point of asking for the Holy Spirit to give me the desire to write in Jesus name. And just like that, the very next day, first thing in the morning after prayer, I opened my manuscript document and wrote the first paragraph! If I didn’t ask for that help, I would probably still be watching endless cat videos.

I know I’m not the only one doing some winter planting…

I have a friend who is taking this time to declutter and rearrange her house, by getting rid of things that are no longer needed. It seems the perfect thing to do right now, because these are not the things you’ll want to do in Spring, when the sun is shining, the air smells sweet, and everything is blooming with the warmer days.

She’s pruning her indoor trees and clearing space in her garden and planting new seeds now for the next season.

Will you join us by prayerfully asking the Lord's planting advice for you, and for the desire to cultivate it?

He promises a bountiful harvest.

The lazy man does not plow when the winter planting season arrives; So he begs at the next harvest and has nothing to reap. Proverbs 20:4 AMP

May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your plans. Psalm 20:4 AMP