Reap What? ...Week 6

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in dueseasonwe will reap, if we do not give up."
–Galatians 6:9 NIV

This Lenten season is about intentional "seed sowing".  As children of God, we are promised a harvest from God.  This harvest is contingent upon what seeds we sow.

We have been using this Lenten journey to focus on our seeds-what are we sowing?  We have also examined our behavior by questioning ourselves "water what"?  We dug deeper with the question "prune what".  Last week, we answered "now what".  It is finally time to ask and answer the question:

Reap WHAT?

Let us first find relief in knowing that we are not the first believers to get tired and want to give up sowing the right seed.  I mean, if we are honest with each other, we would all agree that sometimes it feels like there are very little benefits to sowing Godly seed.  People seem to be able to run over you...problems seem to be more frequent...and the list goes on.  However, do not quit!
Although we are closing out this year's Lenten journey, our walk with Christ is never over.  Our need to sow Godly seed is never ending, and guess what... so is our ability to reap a Godly harvest!  It never ends as long as we do not quit!

This final week, I challenge us to work towards building our stamina and determination that says I will not quit!
Paul told the believers in Galatia to not grow weary of doing good.  This doing good can be likened to sowing righteous seed.  We know this because his direct correlation is reaping.  Therefore, do not get weary of it.  Even when the Lenten season is over, keep doing/sowing good seed.  Even when people try your last ounce of patience, keep doing/sowing good seed.  Even when you doubt God's ability to get you out of "THIS," keep doing/sowing good seed!!!  

Why?
In due season we will reap!

God created an internal reproductive clock inside of women.  When a woman becomes pregnant, there is a "due date".  This "due date" cannot be manipulated.  Although the baby can be "born" early or later, the actual "due date" is determined based on this internal clock that is set at 9 months.  Likewise, we activate a spiritual reproductive clock when we sow righteous seeds.  God says, I know things can be "born" sooner or later when you plant righteous seeds; however, there is a "due season" that is appointed to you.  This promise is affirming because there is nothing any human can do to stop the reaping.  You will reap in due season!  Therefore, do not give up!

As we draw closer to Good Friday, tell yourself: I just can't quit!  My due season is promised!

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank you for the opportunity to walk with Jesus before the cross.  As this Lenten season draws to a close, please continue to consecrate me for your glory.  God, please keep me motivated to walk in your will and to remain faithful with my righteous seeds no matter what I face.  I desire to reap the harvest you have appointed for me.  Please help me to remember there are benefits that no one can take from me as long as I don't quit.  I recommit myself to you as I walk in these final days of the Lenten season.  Please keep me covered and committed.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Now What? ...Week 5

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness”
–2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV

This Lenten season is about intentional "seed sowing".  As children of God, we are promised a harvest from God.  This harvest is contingent upon what seeds we sow.

We have been using this Lenten journey to focus on our seeds-what are we sowing?  We have also examined our behavior by questioning ourselves "water what"?  We dug deeper with the question "prune what".  Now, it is time to pause and answer the question:

Now WHAT?

It is tempting during the Lenten season to celebrate our ability to surrender.  We get excited about accomplishing 5 weeks of fasting and intentionally seeking God; however, this is the critical part of our journey together with Jesus to the cross.  As we grow closer, we can become anxious and almost count down to our return to restriction-less eating and behaving.  But where is the glory for God in that?

Since we spent last week giving God something to prune, the question is what will we do now OR Now What???  I believe Paul helps us with this question through his assertion of God's glory and power for those who practice Biblical sowing.  Paul says:

NOW[God] supplies seedto the sower

This lets us know that once we give God something to prune, God will give us something to sow.  It is through our pruning/walking through this Lenten season that God is able to place the right/righteous seeds in our hands, hearts, and minds to sow.  

...and breadfor foodwill also supply

As God gives us seed, God will meet our needs as well.

...and increaseyour store of seed and will enlargethe harvestof your righteousness.

It is in our obedience that God brings about increase and promises to enlarge our harvest.

Now What?  Expect your seed to change.  We began by questioning what to sow; however, you should feel the transformation.  Your seeds are shifting as you avail yourself more and more to the will and move of God.

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank you for the opportunity to walk with Jesus before the cross.  As we continue in this journey, we thank you for the promise of seed that will indeed produce an enlarged harvest.  We admit that sometimes we may fall short or doubt you, but we stand prepared for you to place seeds of confidence, faith, patience, love and much in our hands and hearts so that we can full receive the victory you have in store for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prune What? ...Week 4

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
–John 15: 1-2 NIV

This Lenten season is about intentional "seed sowing".  As children of God, we are promised a harvest from God.  This harvest is contingent upon what seeds we sow.

We have been using this Lenten journey to focus on our seeds-what are we sowing?  We have also examined our behavior by questioning ourselves "water what"?  Now, it's time to dig deeper in this journey with the question:

Prune WHAT?

Jesus begins the 15th chapter of John in a very pointed way by allowing us as believers to face a major fact.  Now, this fact is helpful and sobering...we are NOT in charge!  Whew.  Major weight lifted right?

For those who juggle the control gene like me...this is often challenging.  We trust God, and we want to maintain control.  However, in this Lenten season, we must relinquish control.  We are not in charge.  Jesus is the vine.  The Father is the gardener.  We are the branches.  Period, sis.  Period, bro.  

So, what will you do with this reality?
We must give God something to PRUNE!

The option is simple: cut off OR pruned.

To be pruned means that we will endure seasons where we are trimmed back and parts of us are cut off.  This means the strained relationships, job challenges, tough decisions are all from the Gardener.  God is pruning!  As God prunes, we will become even more productive...even more fruitful. And that's our goal for the Lenten season...Sow righteous seeds so that we can produce fruit of righteousness.

This week, I challenge us to give God something to prune.  Surrender your control.  Surrender your worry.  Surrender your STUFF...so that the Gardener can prune your branches and make you even more productive in season.
 

 

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank you for the opportunity to walk with Jesus before the cross.  As we continue in this journey, help us to give you something to prune.  God, we do not want to be cut off from You.  We do not want to be seen as fruitless.  Help us to relinquish our control so that You can get the glory in us.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Water What? ...Week 3

“A good [person] brings good things out of the good stored up in [their] heart, and an evil [person] brings evil things out of the evil stored up in [their] heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
–Luke 6:45 NIV

This Lenten season is about intentional "seed sowing".  As children of God, we are promised a harvest from God.  This harvest is contingent upon what seeds we sow.

During the first and second weeks of Lent, we worked to answer the question: Sow What?  What will you sow this Lenten season?

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us begin to water the righteous seeds that we have purposed to sow.  How do we water?

While speaking about "Tree and Fruit," Jesus said:  A good [person] brings things out of the good stored up in [their] heart...

This affirmation about sowing and reaping offered by Jesus reminds us that we can only water what we have placed inside of us.  Additionally, what we place inside of us BECOMES US!  Hey, I didn't say it.  Jesus did!

A good[person] brings goodthings...
an evil[person] brings evilthings...

This is the time in our Lenten journey to question:

Water what???
What am I watering?

Prayerfully, we are watering "GOOD":  that which is acceptable and approved by God.  The truth of the matter is we know what we are watering, so let's fix it.  Fix the areas of our lives where we are tempted to water "evil": that which is not acceptable or approved by God.  If we are unsure about whether we are watering good or bad, just listen to what comes from our mouth:  "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

Water what???

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank you for the opportunity to walk with Jesus before the cross.  As we continue this Lenten journey, please make us sensitive to the seeds we are sowing/the person we are becoming.  As we pay more attention to our seeds, we pray that You will give us the strength to water them daily and to demonstrate it in what we say.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Sow What? ...Week 1

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.”
–Proverbs 11:30 NIV

This Lenten season is about intentional "seed sowing".  As children of God, we are promised a harvest from God.  This harvest is continent upon what seeds we sow.  During this first week of Lent, I challenge us to answer the question: Sow What?

What will you sow this Lenten season?
 

The proverb affirms that when we sow righteous seeds, we prepare for fruit.  These fruit are made of seeds, and these seeds produce a tree of life.  It is somewhat of a full circle that never stops giving...never stops producing...and we never stop reaping!

So....sow what?  What will you sow this Lenten season through your fasting? What will you sacrifice?  What will you plant inside your heart and spirit?

Spend this week contemplating and writing intentionally about your Lenten "seed sowing".  Next week, we will work to water them.
 

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank you for the opportunity to walk with Jesus before the cross.  We recognize that we need preparation for the glory that You will reveal in our lives.  Help us to daily seek you over the first 7 days of this Lenten season.  Help us to hear you as you reveal the seeds that we should sow in our lives. Help us to trust you while we wait.  In Jesus' name, Amen.