Hello Partners,
I can barely believe we are in December and at the end of another year. Yet here we are! I thank God that He has brought us through another year – praising His wonderful name. It has not been a year without challenges for most of us – but God has remained faithful through it all. His faithfulness and love never ceases to amaze me. Though He doesn’t always remove challenges from our life – He does walk with us through it all. I thank God for that.
This year as I was pondering the final partner letter of the year, I was reminded of something I once read. It was a statement a minister made that was perplexing to me. He said, “this is a year of sowing.”
I began to ponder that statement. I looked back through the years of my life and realized in the beginning of my walk with God, there were some years when I didn’t sow consistently. Consequently, neither did I harvest in those years. I thought of my aunt and uncle, who are farmers. It would never enter their mind to not sow. They realize the only way to have hope of a harvest is to plant seed into the ground. Consistently, year after year.
They also know that a harvest doesn’t only affect their summer, it affects their entire year. They sow, they harvest and then they put their harvest up for the year. That harvest will last until the next season of sowing and reaping their harvest. So, it is with us.
Galatians 6:7-9 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 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.”
As this year ends, I began to ponder on the things I have sown in 2021. I am not only talking about finances, but I am also talking about how much time have I sowed into the word of God? How much time I have sown into the presence of God? How much time have I sown into God’s people? How much time have I sown into those I love?
The question that arose is, “Have I sown in a way to expect a harvest in these areas?” The Bible is clear, what I sow … I WILL REAP.
This is often the time of the year when many reflect on the past year and look forward to changes in the New Year. What I know to be true is; if you want next year to be different, you will have to change some things.
Do you find yourself in the same place today as you were this time last year? If so, something needs to change. You need to change what you are sowing. And perhaps where you are sowing.
Do you want more of God’s presence in your life? Sow into that – spend time in His presence daily. I guarantee you will reap when you sow into His presence.
Do you need more friends in your life? Then sow into people.
Do you want more power in your prayer life? Sow into it! Declare the word of God daily and pray fervently and consistently.
How about finances? Are they where you need them to be? If not, perhaps you need to sow more diligently and purposefully.
That’s the inventory I am taking right now…what do I want to see change in next year and what do I need to do to see that harvest. For me, frankly, one of those areas are finances. I have spent a great deal of time this very morning talking to God about finances and what He would have me do to increase what is coming into my hands each month. Of course, He took me to scripture.
2 Corinthians in the Amplified Bible says, “Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift].”
From this scripture I see the need to give thought and purposely decide what I need to sow today and in the coming year. Every day, every month, every year is a sowing time, that is, if I want every day, every month, and every year to be a reaping time.
If I want things to change – I must change some things. If WE want things to change, it’s up to us to begin that journey. We must do it God’s way. I love how the JB Phillips translation says Galatians 6:9; Don’t be under any illusion: you cannot make a fool of God! A man’s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows.
It’s up to us entirely – as for me, I choose for some things to change for me in the coming year. I refuse to find myself in this same place one year from now…how about you? Perhaps, just perhaps, it’s time for some things to change.
On a final note, as we come to the end of this year, as a ministry, I pray we have been a continual source of blessing to you and your family. Our heart and prayers have been to do so daily. It has been our purpose in 2021.
If you have been blessed by our daily writings, if you have been fed daily at our morning table, we ask that you pray about sowing into this ministry this month. Pray and ask God what He would have you give today as a seed into this ministry and remember, God loves a cheerful and purposeful giver.
May we all finish this year strong and begin the new year even stronger…that’s our declaration today! May God richly bless all your giving and continue to multiply your harvest. We love you and we are praying for you daily.
With much love!
Merry Christmas!
