Recognizing the seasons

Dearly Beloved, I hope this finds you well and bubbling in the Lord. Ecclesiastes 3v1-2 (AMPC) says “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted,”. At some point in time, I was thinking of patience – patience in waiting to see the fruit of what has been planted. I was reading a book and this idea of waiting and recognizing the seasons struck me again (an extract from it is below). Many times, we want to see results whether at work, or in ministry, in our families e.t.c., but an important part of receiving the harvest is actually sowing.

For those who are not yet married for example, you can sow into your marriage from now. Proverbs 31 speaks of the virtuous woman who does her husband good and not harm: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31v10-12, KJV). One way of doing your husband good even before meeting him is sowing seeds of prayers, gaining wisdom, keeping pure e.t.c. For students, you have to study; for workers, the building blocks and foundation that brought you to where you are will eventually shine through. That is, if you cheated your way to the top or built it on hard work and diligence will become evident. Proverbs 14v23 (KJV) for example says “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” Beloved, what season are you now? Have you been planting? In Galatians 4v19 (TLB) Paul talks of the travail he goes through for Christ to be formed in those he was laboring for - “Oh, my children, how you are hurting me! I am once again suffering for you the pains of a mother waiting for her child to be born—longing for the time when you will finally be filled with Christ.” May God enable us to recognize the seasons we are in and not to waste the planting season. This time of waiting at home for most, what would God have you plant?

Supplementary Text

“The nature of spiritual truth can be found in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is an appointed time for everything.” There is a time to plant and a time to reap, but there will not be a reaping if we have missed the time to plant. Through much of recent history, the evangelical church has had a “reaping mentality” which has caused it to overlook many of the planting seasons. Because of this our harvests have amounted to little more than the gathering of what has grown wild. This will change. The church will begin to understand the truth and wisdom of sowing in order to reap in every area, not just for finances, but especially in evangelism and missions, which will multiply the harvest.” Paragraph One, Chapter two, The Harvest by Rick Joyner (2007 edition).

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word. Thank you for the different seasons of life. Father, please help me to recognize the various seasons. Help me especially to know what and how to plant in the season of planting. Thank You because You are the One who brings the increase. Help us, help Your church to plant and plant well to the glory of Your name in Jesus name, amen.