Fall is upon us! Apples and pumpkins are out for picking, scarves are being pulled out from their summer storage, and the habit of curling up under a warm blanket seems incredibly appealing. Besides these traditions, one of the most memorable things of fall is the changing of the leaves. Trees go from a crisp, bright green to warm shades of red, orange and yellow and eventually float down to the ground once they’ve died, leaving bare branches for the winter months.
These autumn months are a perfect time to reflect on our own choices in life. Just like the trees letting go of the stubborn, dead leaves, we shouldn’t hold on to any unnecessary weight in our lives. Fall is a time of change, and we need to look inside ourselves to recognize changes we need to make, too. In Ephesians 4:31-32, God’s word says:
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” NIV
We need to identify those struggles we are going through, and let them go, leaving a bare skeleton, just like the tree. Then, when we let him, God will then fill us with strength, power, and love for the new season! Isaiah 43:18-19 reminds us:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Remember the changes of fall. Remember that you can become a new thing, once you let go of the past, just as the trees do every year.