Monday, January 19, 2015

The Reaping of the Heart

This is what the LORD says: "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances…Isaiah 49:8

Farmers know that horrible feeling of looking out on a field ready to be harvested and feeling discouraged because the crops do not look like they will bring a good harvest. One bad year can be enough to kill a farmer’s business.  But is it possible that though the field seems weedy and sparse, the harvest could still be plenty. 

The Law of the Harvest says that we reap in proportion to what we sow, which seems very fair, right?  It is always terribly unfair when the farmer sows the seed and waters the crops and keeps the weeds out and then by some means beyond his control – insects or weather perhaps, his crops are diminished or destroyed.  It does happen sometimes.  It can happen in our spiritual life as well.  We can sow lots of seed, water and nurture the seeds we have planted only for the crop to grow thin.  But Jesus said for us to give thanks in all things.  He calls us to bring a sacrifice of praise.  

Sometimes we can miss the greatest part of the harvest because we are looking in the wrong place.  God is in control of the harvest and he is more than sufficient to yield a bumper crop.  He is enough and the bounty is greater than it seems.  Also, the greatest harvest from sowing may take place in our own hearts.  No matter what happens in our lives, good and bad, bountiful harvest or thin harvest, if we give thanks we will find peace.  Something that doesn’t look like anything good can yield good in the hands of God. The person that is thankful and counts all blessings will yield much more than they can see. 

He who is grateful for little is given much laughter and it’s counting the ways He loves, this is what multiplies the joy. – Ann Voskamp
So, when we have a small harvest, we can be grateful anyway.  When we are grateful anyway, we have a bumper crop of joy.  The reaping is greater than ever imagined – or seen with the naked eye.  This great reaping is only felt in the heart.  Perspective is everything. 


Scripture to Claim:
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…  Hebrews 12:28

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