Over the last few weeks of our shelter-in-place / safer-at-home restrictions, I have heard from a number of people who have shared how they are spending their time. Some have gone into a cleaning frenzy that has left no corner untouched. Others have decided to redeem the time by learning a new craft or hobby. Some have gone into exercise mode to avoid gaining the “quarantine fifteen,” and others have resorted to lying on the couch and consuming way too many snack foods. A few people have told me that they have been busy planting during this time. After the frosts passed, they put seeds into the ground and now look forward to the harvest.

Whether we have a green thumb or not, all of us are constantly planting, tending and harvesting. We may not be putting physical seeds into actual soil, but the things we sow — our habits, thoughts, practices — will bear fruit in our lives. We often live as though the only results we will receive for anything we “plant” are blessings, but that is not the case. What we plant matters; God is not mocked. (Galatians 6:7a).

The principles of a physical harvest hold true for the spiritual law of the harvest…

• You will reap what you sow. “Whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7b).
• You will reap more than you sow. “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8).
• You will reap in a different season than you sow. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

During this season, be careful what you put into the ground; no matter how long it may take, the harvest will come. Use this time to cultivate lasting and valuable fruit revealing the righteousness of Christ and his glory. 

Pray that…

We will use this time to allow God to break up our hardened ground and sow seeds of righteousness. – Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
 
We will sow and seek the things which will bring spiritual peace. – James 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

We will pray that God will send workers and will use us to be a part of a great spiritual harvest. – Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”