Dear Ren Family,
As one who grew up in New England I have memories of learning about the early pilgrim settlers. They sailed across the Atlantic on the dangerous seas and settled in a place far away from the resources of England. What was especially difficult was the New England winters. They had to fight against the cold and they didn’t exactly have grocery stores to acquire food. Winter illnesses took many lives. Over time, they adapted by canning food and curing meats; they made warmer clothing and shelter. They learned how to prepare for winter.
The 2020 pandemic has been a time of affliction. From March until the present (7 months) we have seen how one tiny virus can bring so much anxiety, conflict, sickness, death and economic hardship. What has perhaps made it tolerable for many of us has been the beautiful New England weather. The bursting bloom of spring, the blissful long summer days and now the crisp air and gorgeous foliage have had a sustaining effect.
But winter is coming.
It’s been on my heart the last couple weeks to prepare for winter and to prepare the church, as well. The Covid-19 numbers (that were getting quite low during the summer) have now surged back up. It looks like it will be awhile before we are “out of the water”. What I’m saying is that the pandemic will likely extend through the winter. It will get harder. Eating outside at restaurants, going to the beach or parks, working in the garden and other outdoor activities may not be as easy or even an option. And eventually, it’ll start getting dark at like 4:15 pm. I predict that many people are going to fall into something much more severe than the “winter blues” this year. There will be epidemic mental health issues, illness, financial hardships and suicide. I’m not trying to depress you, but, in fact, I want to encourage you to prepare to flourish this winter.
Here’s the good news: the Lord has already gone before us and is making a way for us to flourish this winter.
Even if things get worse outwardly—which may happen—we can be sure that God has prepared streams in the desert. He is the God who brings beautiful things out of barrenness. This is how our God works. I believe that the sweetest revelations of Christ, and the most powerful encounters with God, and the most satisfying waters, are found in the darkest, coldest seasons. The saints through the ages testify to this fact: the glory of God is revealed in the winters of life.
My dear friends, I want to encourage you to not be afraid of this winter, nor dread it at all. Our God will sustain us and He will lead us to green pastures and beside still waters. He will warm our hearts when it’s 4 degrees outside and dark. He will draw us near for intimate communion and drench our hearts with eternal joy.
The Lord keeps whispering to me, “prepare for winter”. So, I’ve been praying and thinking a lot about what that means. Here are seven ways we can prepare to flourish this winter.
1. Get outside while the weather is still nice.
Today (I’m writing this on Thursday) is absolutely beautiful. Tiffany and I went to a local park to do some laps with our dog Jack and just take in the wonder of autumn. Do that. Get out of the house. Unplug. Go for a walk. I know you’re busy, but make it happen.
2. Use the next 40 days to prepare.
Thanksgiving, which marks the beginning of the cold weather, is about 40 days away. Use the next 40 days to prepare for winter. Store up the Word in your heart. Fill your spiritual tank with extended prayer. Read some choice books to gear your mind for spiritual growth through the winter. Some authors I’d recommend are Tim Keller, C.S. Lewis and A.W. Tozer.
3. Eliminate some time-wasters.
To really do the above (#2) requires eliminating certain things. I’m not only talking about sinful things. Yeah, definitely get rid of sinful things! But I’m talking about the common ways we fill our time: mindless shopping, internet surfing, social media scrolling, tv binging, kitchen grazing, video gaming and 1,000 other things. Some of these activities are dear to us and, sort of, sweeten life. I’m not suggesting putting it all away, but simply reducing the fun stuff to make more time for the pursuit of God.
4. Eat healthy and in moderation.
Let’s talk about food for a moment. It’s funny how seldom you hear a sermon on gluttony. Or on fasting. The Bible talks a lot about these things though. During the pandemic many of us have spent a lot of time shut away at home and this has led to excessive eating. You know what I mean: eating when bored, comfort eating, stress eating. The way we relate to food can have a dulling effect on our spiritual lives. Eat healthy and in moderation. Practice self-control. Enjoy food—it’s a gift from God!—but don’t let it control you. This leads me to the next encouragement.
5. Fast.
I’ve been a serious Christian since 1989 and can testify that the greatest increases of spiritual power I have experienced through the years came in seasons of fasting. I wish spiritual power came through downing a bag of chips and an IPA. But it doesn’t. There’s something mysterious about fasting that releases power. When we fast, we are saying, in essence, “God, I want You more than food”. And He sees that and does special things that don’t seem to come any other way.
So, especially in these 40 days leading up to Thanksgiving, plan to do some fasting. On certain days drink a little juice and then break the fast at sunset. Maybe do a “Daniel fast” (veggies and water) for a few days. Cut out meats and sweets one week. Do some days of just eating during a certain “window” like noon-5. If you are more experienced, then consider a longer fast. If you’ve never fasted don’t just jump into something crazy long and hard. Do some research first. It’s important, for example, if fasting for more than a couple days, to ease slowly back into regular eating.
6. Stay connected to the church.
Determine to stay connected with the family of God. Sundays at Ren will probably stay the same through the winter. About 50 gather on Sunday and the rest of you (I hope!) watch from home. I and other leaders are working hard to feed you with good meaty messages that will make you spiritually strong.
But it’s not enough.
We need connection and this takes a little effort and creativity. Get in a small group, make a phone call, go for a socially distanced hike, find a fire pit to fellowship around—do something! Don’t let yourself get isolated. Embrace the cold. Wear thermal underwear and 5 layers of clothes and meet a friend for a walk. Remember how we used to play outside in the winter as kids all day? Let’s get that back. Do whatever it takes to be with each other. If you don’t know anyone then the best place to start is to jump into a small group.
7. Fix your thoughts on Jesus.
I saved this one for last because it’s the most challenging and most important. The reason why so many people wither spiritually in the winter is because of what they choose to focus on. In a world of pandemics and political fighting, racial strife and forest fires, economic instability and threats of war—and instant news about it all—we cannot focus excessively on it.
Yes, be aware; read the news. But let most of your thinking be on things above. Gaze on God and muse on the future new city. Use your best mental energies to remember what Christ has done in giving His life for you. Fix your thoughts on Jesus.
This world—in its present state—is not our home. We are exiles and strangers. Things may get worse in the days ahead. The planet is a mess in so many ways and problems seem to get exponentially worse by the day. Look beyond it all to the One who is making all things new. The very ground we stand on feels like it’s shaking, but God is our Rock. He holds all things together and He is sovereign over all things. Let Him be your Refuge, and may He warm you with His presence throughout this entire winter. My prayer is that each of you would flourish in ways you’ve never imagined were possible. I love you all. Thanks for reading.
-Pastor Scott