Day 14 of 21 Days of Prayer. SEEDTIME & HARVEST. Earlier this week, right after a hard morning workout, cleaning up and getting ready for work, I stood there looking at myself. I felt awesome! Both physically and mentally better than I have in a while. I'm not sure exactly what I expected to see because it's only been a couple of weeks that I've started this new exercise program. But there I stood, looking in the mirror. Then I suddenly stopped smiling back at myself as the thought came, "Umph, you still look the same".
In moments like these, it's easy to entertain that kind of thinking. Be careful because if you do, next thing you know, discouragement sets in and you quit. But thank God for a renewed mind! Immediately, the Lord said, seedtime and harvest!
I hope you are hearing this the way I am. In that moment, the Lord reminded me that this principle is not limited to finances. It applies to accomplishing the vision that God gives to us. There's seedtime, a time to plant. And, there's harvest time, a time to reap.
Plant the seed, give it time and it will grow!
You will reap a harvest if you faint not (Galatians 6:9)!
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease (Genesis 8:22)."
PLANTING
First, you must plant. Be committed to spending energy, time, money, mental focus, and making whatever changes necessary to achieve your goal. Making those kind of sacrifices signals you and the world around you, that you are serious. When you take yourself serious, life all around you will also take you serious. This is planting the seed.
TIME
Then, you must give the seed time. Don't get anxious, uneasy or down if you don't see immediate results. In my case, I didn't get physically UNfit overnight and it's going to take time to get back to being physically fit. The key to giving time for the seed to grow is what you do while waiting. Stay on course. Keep your eye on the target. Be sober-minded, realistic and most importantly, feed your faith. That produces great expectation every day you are waiting. God will speak, you'll be encouraged and you will not abort the dream prematurely. This is time.
HARVEST
Finally, get ready to reap the harvest! Oh my God!! This is the part that you and I are (have been) waiting for. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6:9). But, before harvest, you have to manage your crop with the proper nutrients. Two important ingredients that will determine the outcome of your harvest is your thinking and your speaking.
TAKE AUTHORITY OVER YOUR THINKING
Your thinking is the fertilizer to the seeds you have planted. Whatsoever things are good, true, honest, just, pure, lovely...think on these things (Philippians 4:8). Think good thoughts about your vision.
TAKE AUTHORITY OVER YOUR SPEAKING
Your thinking will impact your speaking, which is funneled through your mouth, the distribution center that releases the fertilizer.
Inspire your vision with hope.
Season your vision with faith.
That, my friend, will reap a harvest.
After God gave me this revelation, I started smiling again!
The journey of faith is awesome!
PRAY THIS PRAYER ALOUD
Father, today I thank You for the revelation of seed time and harvest! I am committed to working on whatever is needed to see the vision come to pass. I am settled in my heart to wait patiently while the seed is watered, tended and develops for manifestation. I will not be discouraged nor will I doubt what You have spoken to me. And with that in mind, I walk in great expectation that at the end, the vision will speak because it is set to manifest at an appointed time.
I am ready to receive, in Jesus's name, Amen!
~Inspiring Hope and Seasoning Faith, Pastor Sean & Dr. Regina Daigre