God has amazing promises for us, but what should we do while we are waiting? How do we manage the meantime? In this devotional, Chidi Wosu guides us through 4 days on how to prepare for the harvest you are waiting for.
Chidi Wosu
Day 1
Scriptures: Proverbs 10:5, Proverbs 27:23-24
What Am I Sowing?
Many people may not know that when you farm, there are extensive plans one has to consider to make sure the harvest is successful. One of those plans is knowing the fruits one wants to harvest. In other words, what am I planting? It might seem like an easy question, but when there are many different varieties of particular types of items, the farmer needs to know what they are planting so that they can prepare the soil in the fields for that crop. Different types of plants require different types of preparation.
In the same way, how you have prepared for something in one season, may not work in the next season. Right now, there is a particular harvest that you wish to have. Think of the promises that God has laid on your heart, whatever it may be. That promise is there on purpose. It is not an accident. That is something that God has given you to believe.
Now given this, what are you doing in this season to prepare for what you wish to harvest? For example, if you want to get married, how are you going about making sure that you are spiritually, financially, and physically stable? If you want a business, what are you learning from others in that business to help you build yours? Sowing is not an idle exercise. It requires you to prepare yourself intentionally for the harvest that you are expecting.
The reason planning is essential is that if you do not plan, you will not be prepared when the harvest time comes. You can miss out on the blessings for lack of preparation, which is why sowing is just as important as reaping. The process of making sure you have the right skills, aptitudes, and attitudes before your harvest season is critical to ensure the harvest is successful. In Proverbs 27, the Bible talks about how we should be diligent in knowing the state of our flocks. Concerning preparation, we should be diligent in knowing what we need to prepare for our trajectory.
Reflection:
1. What are the specific promises that God has given to you?
2. How are you currently preparing for that promise?
3. How can you prepare better than you are currently doing?
Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Help me to identify how I should be preparing for my harvest season. Help me to locate the dreams you have laid on my heart, and help me to partner with you to make a plan to prepare me for those things. I do not want to miss what you have for me.
In Jesus name,
Amen!
Day 2
Scripture: Galatians 6:9
The Value of the Wait
As the temperature begins to drop in the fall in the United States, many individuals venture out to pumpkin patches and apple farms. During this time of the year, you can find droves of people in the apple orchards picking the lush apples during harvest time. Having never ventured out to an orchard, I put on cozy fall gear and headed out to the fields to partake in the activities.
As I looked at some of the full-grown trees that I easily plucked apples from, I began to wonder how long some of these apples had been planted before anything could be harvested from them. I did some research, and on average, it takes 8-10 years to produce a crop from an apple tree! Everything that happens in the 8-10 years will dictate the type of harvest a farmer stands to have at the end of that journey.
This made me think of when we are on journeys that God takes us through in our lives. You could be waiting to get married, break out into your career, business success, or even to have children. Whatever that journey is, there is always some forms of waiting associated with that journey. Within the process, sometimes it can feel like you are stuck and nothing is happening. However, the Bible says that we should not grow weary or tired when we are doing good. It is because eventually when the time is right, we will reap what we sow. Galatians 6:9 reads, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” The key here is that we cannot give up even when we grow weary. We must continue to press forward!
I would imagine that this is what it is like when you plant an apple tree. You cannot really see the fruit of what it will become. It is only a seed. However, with the right care and preparation, the apple tree will eventually yield a large crop. However, it requires patience. Your seed may be the promise you are holding onto. It may be the thing you are believing God for. However, during this season of waiting, do not lose heart. Even though you wait, there are still things you need to do to be prepared and successful once that harvest comes, and it will come! No matter how it looks, you will sow for what you have planted. As we journey through the next few days, we will look at some ways in which we can prepare ourselves for our harvest in the period of waiting.
Reflection:
1. What seeds or dreams are you waiting to spring forth in your life?
2. How are you navigating the waiting period?
3. What are some things you can think of that will help with your preparation?
Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Lord help me in this season of waiting to understand that everything that I am doing during this season has a purpose. Help me to know that although I cannot see the harvest, if I am diligent, I will reap in due season. Help me to know what I should be doing during this season of waiting.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Day 3
Scripture: Malachi 3:11
Pest Control
Pest Control is a huge part of producing a good harvest. If a farmer is not diligent in knowing what types of pests will attack crops, it can lead to disaster. Pests like locusts can attack a field of crops and bring to ruin which can cause famine. In our own lives, we can deal with “pests” and if not controlled appropriately can cause issues in getting us to our destiny. In farming, pests are categorized by the damage they inflict on crops. We can relate some of these types of pests to situations or people in our lives.
Chewing Mouthparts Pests– These pests leave holes, ragged edges, and missing parts of a plant. This could be categorized as situations in your life that strip you of your passion and talents. This could be people who degrade you or make you feel that the destiny you are trying towards is not possible.
Piercing Sucking Mouthparts -These pests literally suck the life out of the plant. Examples are people who are draining and do not deposit much into your life or your overall purpose.
Defoliators feed on plants and leave them bare. Examples are people or situations who are using you for your resources.
Gall makers insert all or part of their bodies into plant tissue—typically into leaves, stems, or twigs—and cause the tissue to swell. An example of this is people who you have a connection, maybe even a soul tie, which can connect themselves to you and destroy what God intended for you to be.
It is important that we identify these things and people in our lives, and learn how to control them from wreaking havoc on our destiny. The truth is, we cannot prevent pests or distractions from coming into our lives, but we can make sure that we have the right tools to control the damage that can occur.
How do we fight against this? We must use the armor of God to defend ourselves against them. In Ephesians 6:13-14, the Word says we should put on the full armor of God so you can withstand the evil day. This means that the evil day will come, however when we put on the armor of the Lord, we can defend ourselves and destiny against it.
One pivotal thing is making sure that God is endorsing every step you are taking, in any area of your life, and you are asking for His protection and discernment. This will help you delineate what activities, friendships, and issues you should be participating in. It does not mean that calamity will not come, but when it does, you will be more prepared to fight against it and overcome it.
Reflection:
1. What “pests” exist in your life?
2. In what ways can you use the armor of God to attack these things, people, or places?
Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Help me to discern what distractions I have in my life and find creative ways to eliminate and control them.
In Jesus name,
Amen!
Day 4
Scripture: Matthew 25:1-15
Preparing Your Equipment
The Bible talks about the ten virgins who were waiting for their bridegroom. This story is a parable that relates to the ultimate harvest, the coming of Jesus Christ. However, we can also relate this to any harvest that we are waiting on God for. The Word says, it is foolish not to be in preparation for the appointed time of when the promise will be fulfilled, and if we do not do proper preparation when the harvest season comes we may miss the opportunity.
Concerning our farming metaphor, much preparation goes into making sure a harvest is successful. When farmers prepare for a harvest, they typically start to do so in the wintertime after harvest season, which means they are preparing for their harvest up to a year in advance or more. If they wait longer, they may not have the equipment that is needed when the harvest is ripe.
There is also another part of this story that people often skip. In waiting for the bridegroom, all the virgins fell asleep. I liken that to entering God’s rest. While we are waiting for our harvest, God does not want us to be anxious. He wants us to trust that the promise is coming and stay alert for its manifestation. In farming, there is a practice in which after a harvest, the farmers allow the land to rest, so that it can replenish its nutrients. In the same way, throughout the seasons when we are waiting on God, we need to find a way to enter into His rest and be content in our “middle” seasons.
As we look at our lives, what are we waiting on God for that can be likened to a harvest? It could be a promotion, a spouse, graduation, or a new job. Whatever we are waiting for, we need to make sure that in the middle season, we are doing what needs to be done to ensure our hearts and minds are right before the opportunity presents itself. The five virgins deemed as wise had their lamps ready to be lit when their bridegroom came. What are the things in our lives that we need to get ready before our harvest?
Reflection:
1. What does it mean for you to enter into “God’s rest”?
2. What are the things in your life that are not prepared if God’s promise was to come today?
Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Lord help me to identify what aspects I need to prepare for my promise. While I am waiting, help me not to be anxious and enter into Your rest.
In Jesus name,
Amen