When God began speaking to me about “semi-retirement” I questioned His timing, until He showed me this verse found in II Samuel 5:

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. (v. 4)

I would turn 70 in several years, just as King David. While that timing is different for everyone, I knew it wasn’t quitting time, but rather time to raise up the next generation and to open seats at multiple leadership tables. And then these verses spoke to me specifically about this new season I would enter:

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.(Psalm 71:17-18) 

William Vanderbloemen in his book, Next, states that from the day we take a new position we should be looking for our successor. For me, it wasn’t until we began the succession process for our international director.

While my life has been dedicated to teaching, helping and multiplying myself to others, it hasn’t been my first priority to think about my replacements. When you’re young the thought is, you’ll live forever and when you’re older, you’ll minister long term.. Why? Because the work we do is never finished and we’re never too old to do it. 

One morning in my devotional time I was reading Ecclesiastes chapter 3. This is the chapter where Solomon writes about a time for everything. Having read these verses many times, God was placing a new emphasis upon them. Reading them a second time, I sensed God asked me to count them as “seasons.” There are 28. This reflection caused me to think about which season I was in and which season I was entering. 

How about you? Do you know the season you now live in? Do you know and embrace the next season God is preparing you for? God has new wine and fresh oil for you and it’s available to everyone of us!