Devotional:
Do you ever find yourself working hard to see a change? Maybe you have done what God said, but because you don't see a result, you feel that you need to do more?
In life, we have been taught to seek instant gratification. If there isn't an immediate return on effort, there must be a problem. But if you just planted a tomato seed yesterday, because you don't see growth today, does that mean the seed won't sprout into a tomato? Absolutely not! There are other factors that play a role in the fruition of that plant. The sun, the rain, the fertility of the soil and more.
When God gives you an instruction in the form of a seed, there are many other factors that play a role in that seed reaching full maturation. Just as you can't determine the behavior of the sun or the rain, there's another important factor that only God determines. That is the magnitude of the increase and also when the increase happens.
Scripture tells us that no matter a person's personal attributes that time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Meaning everyone will have a moment for their seed to experience increase. But only God can determine when that time is.
Don't lose focus by dancing with "busyness". Focus on following every instruction God gives. Know that in due season you shall reap a great harvest and none of the work you have done will be in vain.
Scripture(s) Meditation:
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”
I Corinthians 3:6-7 NKJV
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
“I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.”
Ecclesiastes 9:11 NKJV
“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Galatians 6:8-9 NKJV
Reflection Question(s): We invite you to discuss below.
If you understand that God is the one who brings the increase, why do you continue to try and do more to gain more? What keeps you from following the instruction of the Lord and waiting on Him? Have you always struggled with patience? What is the root cause of this? How can you learn to exercise patience more effectively?
Sun'Ray💕