Building Capacity During Peaceful Seasons

Building Capacity During Peaceful Seasons

2 Chronicles 14:1-8 (Asa’s Chronicles 1).

Key verse: 2 Chronicles 14:6 And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

Peaceful seasons as referred to in the text are periods when there are no piling pressures from the external influences of life. It implies a time after a victory or rest from the rigors of life. For instance, an employee in government or private establishments is entitled to an annual leave/vacation with accompanying benefits. It is designed as a time to refresh and rest from the rigors of months of labor and to reflect on improvements for the tasks ahead. But most people pile on even more work during this allowed rest to make ends meet, which may result in decreased productivity, stress, and sickness. This law is a draft from the Sabbath law when the Israelites are tasked with allowing the land to rest from any form of cultivation. This is where burn-outs, frustrations, and stress emanate as a resulting consequence of not resting. Even Christ gave His disciples a leeway to rest while they were going about the task of the kingdom- Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. This is also applicable to spiritual work and kingdom service, there is the need to set time apart to retreat with the Lord for thorough spiritual diagnostics and alignment, and to gain fresh spiritual insights to execute future kingdom tasks. We cannot continue giving out without experiencing continuous repletion ourselves. Otherwise, we become spiritually worn, and fatigued, and act outside of the boundaries of God’s grace.

From the text above, we see how King Asa commenced his reign with a peaceful season of about ten years. Some other kings usually result to set their hearts to whoring after cheap, undignifying idolatries forgetting that there are appointments of times and seasons- Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. The first and most important thing he did was to set his heart unto God. This is the ultimate way to find peace: find the God of peace, and be at peace with Him. Otherwise, we will set ourselves up for tumult and the hardness of this life- Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Even though we might be at peace with the outer world’s situations, challenges, and hardship, there’s always an ongoing war against the elements of unrighteousness and fleshly dominion in our minds. We must remain on alert every day, vigilant against the devil and his alluring poisons and pollutions- 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Building capacity is essentially cementing unbreakable habits, setting our desires on Christ, ordering our priorities, and developing Biblical strategies against the enemy’s warfare. Seasons of peace are also: a time of active spiritual training, Times of inner reflection and taking stocks, and Times of building resilience.

1 ‘Christian! seek not yet repose,’
hear thy guardian angel say;
thou art in the midst of foes;
‘watch and pray.’

2 Principalities and powers,
mustering their unseen array,
wait for thy unguarded hours;
‘watch and pray.’

3 Gird thy heavenly armour on,
wear it ever night and day;
ambushed lies the evil one;
‘watch and pray.’

4 Hear the victors who o’ercame;
still they mark each warrior’s way;
all with one sweet voice exclaim,
‘watch and pray.’

5 Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
him thou lovest to obey;
hide within thy heart his word,
‘watch and pray.’

6 Watch, as if on that alone
hung the issue of the day;
pray, that help may be sent down;
‘watch and pray.’