Where do you need to sow seeds?
Are you being faithful to the gift and calling on your life?
There is a place between got-a-vision-from-God and the- vision-is-becoming-a-reality called, the-vision-is-taking-forever. What are you doing in the ‘mean’ time? This principle found in Genesis has been very encouraging to me during those times:
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. Genesis 8:22
There are seasons for this principle that you need to be aware of:
- there are seasons to sow seed
- only what is sown will be harvested
- there are seasons to harvest what was previously planted
- there are seasons of expansion and increase as you continue to faithfully sow
- every season requires faith to sow before you see results
- every season will have its challenges
God has given you a vision, He planted a seed with the promise of an abundant harvest in your life. Then, as promised, there is time (that’s why it’s called seed—->time—->harvest!). We all know that a seed must die before it can bring forth life. We must be willing to die to our self, selfish ambitions and self-serving desires. We must also separate our identity from the vision God has given us. Our worth and value must be established in him alone, or the seed will not grow to its full potential.
Natural seeds must be planted in the dark, cold, ugly earth. We plant our dreams and life in Christ. This process of surrendering the seed of our dreams to Christ may feel unproductive. We would rather be doing something with the seed: helping it to grow, encouraging it in some way. But our job is to plant it, surrender it, let it die. Until we can trust God, and surrender the seed back to Him, it will not flourish.
Do not take this to mean that there is nothing for you to do! We must commit to the operation that Christ wants to perform on us. We must allow Him (The Word) to shape and form, refine and purify, strengthen and encourage every part of us. We must hold on to hope as we are faithful to becoming more and more like Christ.
That seed that you hold in your hand
– of desires, hopes and dreams –
is about who you are becoming
not what you will do.
We have it on good authority (the Bible) that as long as we live on planet earth, this principle will continue.
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22
The Hebrew word we translate as cease is shabath (sha-vath). This is the same Word used in Genesis 2:2, “…so on the seventh day [God] rested from all his work.” This is the same word used of the idea of the sabbath rest.
God rested. We are told to rest. But this principle will not rest.
Trust God. Be faithful over what He wants you to do with the seed in your hands today, then rest in the complete work of Christ. Trust that even if you don’t yet see anything happening, that God is at work in you, your life, and your dreams.
Be encouraged! You are loved, you are called, and God is not finished with you!
Annie
