Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].

The fall season is officially here with pumpkin spice coffee brewing and the smell of cinnamon scented aromas filling the air. As we notice the gradual shift of the seasons, we should consider what do may want to shift in our own lives. The past couple of weeks I’ve mentioned the importance of starting and ending our day with God. If we are to live a life sacrificed unto Him, then our devotion to the things of God should follow suit which includes prioritizing Him as the center of our day. Does this mean we always get it right? Of course not! God is looking for the faithful and that doesn’t translate as every day is perfect. It means that we never stop surrendering!

So, in this season, my prayer is that we take heed to God’s restoration. God has a way of restoring us like no vacation or extra day of rest ever could. Now, don’t get me wrong, because those things have their place. It is when we start to prefer vacations over vacating to God first. When we start to find more place in physical rest more than resting in God’s Presence is when the alarms should start ringing in our Spirit man. Ask yourself, “when was the last time you rested in God’s Presence?” If it’s been far too long consider this an open invitation to fall back into intimate fellowship with your Heavenly Father. Don’t let shame or guilt keep you from the transformational power of being restored by God. I’m guilty of deeming a good, hot shower as a therapeutic part of ending a long day without including God as my actual hiding place.

The focal verse teaches me that I can run to God and I am safe. This isn’t just safety from physical danger, but mental as well. I can run to God and be safe from anxiety because His Peace blankets my mind. In God’s Presence I am safe from believing the lies from the enemy because I am refreshed in His Word. There is so much that we gain when we keep God first and it is the trick of the enemy to keep us distracted long enough that we forfeit our God-given benefits. If this has been you, I pray that you sense the shift to fall back in alignment this season. The sin is not merely putting other things before God, but knowingly doing so with no repentance. God’s grace is there for us to keep us and His Spirit course corrects us but it is our job to adhere to His correction as believers.

Again, this does not mean we are living perfectly, but surrendering to Christ (daily) as He perfects us, restores us, and transforms us into His image. An image that incites a sinner to salvation and scares the enemy’s camp every time we are blessed to live another day. So, don’t take this fall season lightly. I encourage you to allow God to shift, restore, and ready you for His swift return. My prayer is that you surrender to the restoration of God and lay down the false replication of rest from this world in Jesus Name, amen!