God's Fruitful Field
My Fruitful Field“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:10-12).
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7).
As the farmer waits for the rain with patience, so must you wait for Me. The many years you have spent in preparation were necessary for the outcome I have planned.
It is like the farmer who takes a completely wooded area, overgrown and uncared for, turning it step by step, into a rich and profitable piece of farmland. He understands the necessary steps and doesn’t require his land to produce before it is ready. Land forced into being productive before its time results in immature, disease-prone plants subject to all kinds attack. So he is patient, content to pursue the vision while valuing the process.
The process is as important as the outcome, teaching him patience and understanding (Colossians 1:10-12). Once the wooded area is turned into farmland, there will still be many days ahead requiring those lessons learned in the beginning. As the farmer stands on his porch with face to the horizon, waiting for rain, he knows its arrival will signal the beginning of a new season. He has seen it before and learned well. This season, however; is to be different, yielding the fruit of a lifetime.
The rain comes and the ground is softened. It readily accepts the plow, anticipating the seed to come. Through much tending, sun, rain, and valuable lessons learned well, vision bears fruit. Everything flows within the allotted, necessary time. Each step is pivotal and exactly as it should be. Every stage of development from the formation of the land at My word to the first fruit picked is orchestrated by Me.
Therefore, My child, do not look with an anxious heart nor judge yourself harshly. Embrace your process with determination, for out of it comes the answer, the next stage of growth. The land was created by My word and your life was formed in the secret depths of your mother’s womb. Before there was ever a twinkle in your father’s eye, I knew you and My plans for you. Knowing this will keep you from having an anxious, discontent, and disparaging heart (Philippians 4:6).
I never force you into being something that you aren’t, nor do I say bear this or that kind of fruit before it is time. There is always fruit appropriate to the season; appropriate to your stage of growth. You have done well.
Remember the lessons learned and do not disparage yourself. You are much farther than you think. The only barricade that can stop you now is believing a lie from the enemy about your progress. So, put on My armor “daily” and when the enemy shoots arrows of doubt and accusation you will be prepared to overcome any onslaught (Ephesians 6:10-18). Trust in My character and goodness. Know this; I change not (Hebrews 13:8). I am for you and not against you. I planned everything before you were ever born and I will bring it to pass (Ephesians 2:10).
Now the time has come for you to stand on the porch of your life, with face to the horizon. Much work has been completed and your garden is preparing for its harvest. Don’t look back!
My clouds are releasing rain over you, enabling many seeds planted in the soil of your heart, to respond and grow. Like the farmer who waits with patience and faith, trusting in the goodness of God, so must you (James 5:7, Galatians 6:9). Do not wait with a maybe attitude. Have a heart filled with anticipation and expectation. Watch the horizon and know your time has come. What was once an overgrown, neglected piece of wooded land has now become a fruitful field, a dispenser of lush and much needed fruit. It is beginning to rain.
Prayer
Sometimes Lord I have been so visionary that I have disdained the process. Sometimes I even felt the difficulty of the process represented my lack of validity -- my lack of ability. Thank you for showing me the truth. You have me right where I am supposed to be at this very moment. I embrace it. Uncovering, removing, nurturing, restoring, and planting are all a part of the process.
At times, I underestimated the value of fruit already present in my life, looking for some grander thing. All good fruit is of value to You. There is fruit for every season. Please forgive me for judging myself harshly. I embrace the soft rains as well as the plough. Thank you for the years of preparation, cleaning, and redemption of my land. Show me any judgments I have made in reference to my own value and I will release them. I agree with You. I am fruitful and profitable in the hands of my mighty Lord. Teach me more. Amen.
Reflect and Journal
- What judgments have you made in reference to your own value?
- In what ways have you judged your self harshly or had an anxious heart?
- What are you feeling as the Lord tells you your time has come?
- Hold the seeds you have longed to see come to fruition up before the Lord and let Him send His rain.
- Meditate on the things the Holy Spirit has spoken to your heart and write them down for further edification.
Submitted by Brenda Craig, from Journals of the Heart.
What do you think?
We have all sinned and deserve God’s judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.
What is your response?
What is your response?
