I. What Are Seasons?

There are seasons for everything. What is a season? A season is a short period of time, a opportune moment, an hour, or set time period. When we refer to prayer and seasons of prayer we are talking about specific prayer moments, experiences, opportunities, different in their intensity and duration from other kinds of prayer.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; - Ecclesiastes 3:1

II. What Are Some Kinds of Prayer?

We might call these "levels of prayer." Paul exhorted the church in Ephesus to pray "with all prayer." In his letter to Timothy Paul exhorted Timothy to teach men to pray everywhere… and to pray with supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks.

• 1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
  
• Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  
• 1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

III. What Are Some Seasons of Prayer?

We might call these "Seasons of the Soul."

1. Seasons of Repentance & Brokenness -
   Sackcloth and ashes
   (2 Chronicles 7:14 , Daniel 9:3-19, Hosea 10:12 , James 5:16)

2. Seasons of Searching and Seeking -
   Seek the Lord, for knowledge, vision quest
   (Deuteronomy 4:29, Isaiah 55:6, Zephaniah 1:6,

3. Seasons of Waiting & Watchings -
   All night, praying through
   (Luke 6:12, Acts 12:5, 2 Corinthians 6:5)

4. Seasons in the Spirit-Led Intercessions -
   "Praying in the Spirit"
   (Matt 4:1, 2 Corinthians 12:2 , Eph 6:18, Rev 1:10)

5. Seasons of Pleadings & Fervency -
   "Great drops of blood," tears
   (Luke 22:44, Hebrews 5:7)

6. Seasons of Worship & Thanksgiving -
   Minister to the Lord, wait on the Lord
   (Psalms 27:14, Acts 13:2)

How often we miss the best of what God has for us because we did not care enough to seek or search diligently. Pray is a precious gift of God by which we gain access to the Father, and through which we find mercy and grace to help in the time of need. Let us be among those that "Seek his face continually."

Haggai 1: 5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

· Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; – Acts 3:19

· Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

· Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

· Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

· 1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

· Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

S E A S O N S   F O R   P R A Y E R
by William Baxter

PRAY, when the rosy light
First gilds the eastern skies;
And thus begin the day
With purest sacrifice;
For God will be well pleas'd to hear,
And thou shalt feel his presence near.

All nature teaches this--
The dews which night hath giv'n,
Soon as they see the sun,
They upward fly to heaven;
And birds, awaking from each bough,
Pour forth their sweetest carols now.

Then, like the dew and song,
Which spring away to heav'n,
Thus let thy early vows
With thankfulness be giv'n;
And thus, with ev'ry opening day,
To heaven thy grateful homage pay.

Pray, when the shades of night
Are gath'ring thick around;
For whereso'er thou kneel'st,
Shall then seem holy ground:
And as the sun then sinks to rest,
So may the passions in thy breast.

Pray, that watchful eye
That never knows to sleep,
Around thee ever may
Its wakeful vigils keep:
Thus, Christian, speed along thy way,
And close with fervent prayer each day.

Pray on, O, ever pray,
For time is fleeting fast,
And soon this earthly scene
Will be for ever past:
Then pray'r shall cease, and thou shalt raise
In heaven thy ceaseless song of praise.