Worship
Scripture
“And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”” -Mark 4:26-29 (ESV)
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” -2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (ESV)
“For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.” -Zechariah 8:12 (ESV)
Understanding God’s Process
We are just hours away from the closure of 2021. As I was preparing to sit and write, the only word the Lord gave me was “seeds.” I believe it is a prophetic picture for the process through which we as followers of Jesus are going through. He takes that which was of Himself, and He plants it deep within us. Upon our surrender of the soil of our very lives, He begins the process of germination and growth. What will this result in? This will result in what Scripture clearly outlines: a glorious harvest in and through your life.
The Stages of Growth
Let me quickly refresh your memory on the growth of a seed from planting to maturity. According to Indoor Gardening Guide, the three stages of seed germination are:
- Imbibition: The seed intakes water, swells, and extends its first root (radicle).
- Dormancy: The seed digests the nutrition inside of it and sprouts.
- Growth: The seed grows exponentially into adulthood.
There are many words of indictment against the church in America. Some are probably accurate. There are others like, “She’s asleep,” and, “The church needs awakening,” that I tend to ponder with some sober mindedness. Look at the stage of dormancy needed for a seed’s growth. It’s in this place of darkness when the seed looks like it will never come to life, where it’s greatest growth is both hidden and critical. Then it sprouts after this stage. The Bride of Christ may or may not be taking a nap—I’ve stopped making those sweeping judgements. I know that the Spirit of the Living God is moving and breathing life into very hidden places we cannot see. Our very intimate Jesus is all about our rescue, redemption, sanctification, and glorification. If Scripture is clear that He is coming back for a glorious Bride, you better believe He is at work in very hidden things that we cannot understand with human reasoning or an earthly perspective.
“How exactly the seed grows is a mystery to the farmer. Though it grows by a process he cannot see nor fully account for, he has faith in the growing process. So it is with the Kingdom of God: we work in partnership with God, yet the real work is left up to Him—we trust in a process we cannot see nor fully account for.” -David Guzik, Mark 4 commentary
The Purpose of Growth
Look at the “seed” that was planted in Mary’s womb that she offered to the Lord. What began as just an embryo became the salvation of all of mankind. We partner with God when we give Him our lives to plant the seed of Himself and His Word deep within us. This work that He does is invisible to us but it is fully known to Him, and He has His eye on the entire process of our growth. We trust in a process we cannot adequately see or perceive, but He is greatly at work. He is making us ready to carry His glory and His power and His presence like never before. Would you receive this word of grace today? Trust the process—however slow it seems to you, however painful, however time consuming—because God is at work in the deepest and most hidden places of your life. His seed (His very word and His very life) is taking deep root, it’s gathering up living water, it’s soaking up the light of His presence, and it will burst forth in fruitfulness and glory and growth!
What God has planted in you is for the sake of the world He died for. Your life is a generous offering of the goodness and abundance of God. What He supplies to you, He wants to get through you that others may find life and provision and healing and salvation. Don’t doubt for a moment that your Farmer doesn’t have His eye and hand on this process of your life. He doesn’t plant and tend and water and cultivate for a dead harvest! Oh no, He’s going to bring forth something so marvelous in you, you couldn’t imagine it if you tried!
“This is the glory of Jesus’ work in us. It was prophetically said of Him, a bruised reed he will not break, and smoldering flax, He will not quench (Isaiah 42:3). Jesus takes something as small and insignificant as a seed, buries it, and makes it rise into something glorious. Therefore, we should never despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10).” -David Guzik, Mark 4 commentary
A harvest has small beginnings, but when it comes to full measure, it cannot be denied!
And here is the hope of what is coming! I believe in this hour of restoration and resurrection power for the Bride of Christ, your little shoot is bursting forth! It will be a harvest of righteousness in and through your life. Your roots are deep in Jesus, and will be the anchor for you in the coming year. Beloved, the enemy knows his time is short, and he will not back down. We are going to learn to trust (and war) and follow Jesus in ways we have never had to, especially in America. But we are going to see the power of God on display like never before! And people are going to sit in the shade of your branches and find healing under the tree of your life. I believe 2022 begins this transition of maturity in you for the final stage of growth!
“that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord , that he may be glorified.” -Isaiah 61:3b (ESV)
Please do not despise the days of what feels like slow growth, persecution, and even lethargy. I believe that what seems like a setback or where the Lord seems to have been quiet are your days of critical dormancy where growth is happening and you can’t see it, feel it, or perceive it. So what do we do? We thank Him and we trust and Him and we don’t give up! Please don’t throw in the towel on your faith. A harvest is coming, and Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are making you ready to be a glorious oak of righteousness in the coming days. Throw off regret and failure, shame and guilt, and fix your heart on Jesus. He promised He would faithfully complete in you what He began, which started as just a little seed.
Looking Ahead
I want to close with a portion of a prophetic word from Lana Vawser that the Lord placed on her heart to share (you can read it in its entirety here):
Watch these ones for they are now arising in the earth, they are coming up out of the wilderness leaning upon Me. They have been in a place of breaking and shaking, they have found My heart in a depth and a way that many do not, because they are not willing to walk the narrow path, but these ones are arising in the earth now for the greatest comeback of their lives. They are arising in such deep dependence and humility to carry My heart and the new blueprint of My wisdom and My roar will be LOUD upon them with vindication, favour, provision and revelation, but also My roar THROUGH them will bring forth the manifestation of My Glory and power in ways that have never been seen.
Take heart. Your Overcomer has marked and sealed your life, so trust the process. He is faithful!
“Then if You’re not done working / God, I’m not done waiting.” -Hillsong Worship, “Seasons”
I will see you on the shores of 2022 as we get into the boat together to encounter Jesus in deeper waters. I want to let you know that we will not be fasting in January together, but rather the entire month of April through Easter. I am preparing to write all the devotionals for that month. It’s going to be a critical month of crossover, so what I need you to do is two-fold: pray for me as I write, and ask the Lord who you are to bring with you into deeper waters with Jesus this April. Fill that boat of yours because we are going to encounter Jesus together in 2022!
Happy new year!
A Few Key Notes
- Save the date! An Arise luncheon is happening on February 15, and Arise’s spring luncheon will take place on May 3. More details to come.
- We only have $5,000 left to raise in our $50,000 match to expand the Arise movement into 70 cities in 2022. You can give to the Arise match now through December 31.
- A short-term mission team to Latin America in March is looking for women to join the team. Go be a part of sharing the hope of Jesus to the lost in Latin America! Email Lee Self at [email protected] for more information.
- On January 8, we will be going to Houston to reach out to those from the Middle East. Email Allison Despres at [email protected] for more details or to RSVP.
