“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” -Galatians 6:9-10

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” -Robert Louis Stevenson

“The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.” -James Allen

“Little seeds turn into big trees.” I heard this once when a pastor was explaining why it is that we must be in the Bible every single day. It might seem insignificant, he said, reading a chapter here and a verse there, but it adds up into something you never could have foreseen. As you sit in the quiet place, making tiny deposits into your heart, holding the Word in your hands, just you and God together, something major is happening.

Friends, if we take time to truly meditate on the Word and the treasures found there, we are letting God plant seeds in us, and they are going deep down into the soil of our souls. Those seeds are ruminating and soaking, growing at first in the small, quiet place. As we approach the Bible and say to God, “I come not to control, not to shift and shape the landscape of your Word, but to let the landscape of Your Word move, shift, and break the hard ground of my heart,” we are being undeniably changed. As we surrender to God’s purposes, allowing Him as the Vinedresser to prune what displeases Him (John 15), to bring repentance by exposing the hard ground of our hearts, and to water us with the Word, we will see small growths we never could have made on our own. Each day you will not see the full harvest. Not an hour after reading, not a week after, but the trees will grow. The harvest will come. And as these fields of trees and harvest stand as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and work in tending our lives, they will also give shade and relief to those in our circle of influence.

This is the second true gift. The first gift is that God is growing in us as we allow Him to till the soil of our hearts. The second gift is that the fruit that comes from a life firmly rooted in the Truth of Scripture blesses others. Because of what we’ve gained from life with God in His Word, we are able to “do good” in the lives of those near us. We are able to give them comfort and relief because we have been comforted and relieved by God’s truth in Scripture. We suddenly realize what a gift and a blessing it is to be investing in the lives of others. We find that we don’t give up as quickly as we used to because our hearts have been soaking in the seeds of God’s truth. The power that comes in our lives to love others is not our own. We have garnered strength and conviction from knowing God’s voice, and find ourselves on mission to do good.  

It doesn’t have to be complicated. As Galatians 6:10 says, we must simply start “doing good” to those nearest and dearest to us every time we get the chance. By nearest I mean in the most basic sense- your neighbors-those you bump shoulders with at work and school. Who has God put in your sphere of influence to love, cherish, and point to Jesus? By “dearest” we turn our attention to the precious souls that live in our house, that share our last name, those we spend most of our time with. Plant seeds of love from God’s heart to yours in these places and they will grow into trees that bear much fruit. Do the hard work of tilling the ground–in God’s strength and with all you have–sweat dripping and heart pounding, and the harvest will come. Not because of your effort, but because God blesses us when we press into His truth and share that truth with others as we invest in their lives.

So let’s start with the people closest to us. Let’s bless their socks off, every time we get the chance. Let’s first invest in time in the Word, and watch our hearts grow as they abide in His truth. Let’s give the time and energy to allow God to plant small seeds in our hearts, and let’s watch them grow slowly over time into trees that others will find shade in. Let’s pray that they themselves allow God to plant seeds in them so that the cycle of blessing continues as they fall in love with the God who gave His own Son on a tree for their redemption.

Do not grow weary, beloved. Do not give up. In due time, the harvest will come. The crops will grow and be ready to be pulled up. The Lord will work on us for His purposes. And in the end, may all praise go to the True Farmer working behind the scenes, blessing it all for our good and His glory. 

Questions worth asking:

Have you been planting seeds by being in the Word daily? If not, is there someone you can talk to for encouragement to press into God’s Word?

Have you seen the fruit of spending time in God’s Word in the past? Are you seeing it now?

 What does harvest look like in your neighborly relationships and in your closest relationships right now?

How is God calling you to tend to those relationships and keep doing good?

Where have you seen “little seeds turn into big trees?” Tell someone about that today, so that both of you might be encouraged to do Kingdom work by God’s grace even now.

 Claire Urig, Revelation Wellness Social Media Coordinator.

Have you joined the movement revolution over at RevWellTV? Move your body for freedom and joy, just as you were designed! There are hundreds of workout videos that will increase your wholeness in body and spirit!

Here is your #wednesdayworkout! Join Sara Taylor, Revelation Wellness Lead Instructor for this full length Cardio Dance and Kickboxing workout, entitled:  “WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?”

Thank you for your support! We are thankful you have joined the revolution of wellness God’s way!