Years Of Preparation
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains (James 5:7 NIV).
As the farmer waits for the rain with patience so must you wait for Me. The many years you have spent in preparation were necessary to the outcome I have planned.
It is like the farmer who takes a completely wooded area, overgrown and uncared for, and transforms it step by step into a rich and profitable piece of farmland-a beautiful garden. He understands the necessary steps and doesn’t require his land to produce before it is ready. Land forced into production before its time results in immature, disease-prone fruit. Therefore, the farmer gardens with patience, content to pursue the vision while valuing the process.
The process is as important as the outcome, teaching him perseverance and understanding (Colossians 1:10-12). Once the wooded area is turned into farmland, there will still be many days ahead requiring those lessons learned in the beginning. Standing on his porch with face to the horizon, waiting for rain, the farmer knows its arrival will signal the beginning of a new cycle. He has seen it before and learned well. This season, however; is to be different, yielding the fruit of a lifetime.
Envisioning his garden dancing with abundance before even one sprout pierces the soil allows him to rejoice beforehand. Beloved it is time for you to envision, imagine, see, believe and rejoice. Your time has come.
When The Rain Comes
The rain comes. The ground is softened. It readily accepts the plow, anticipating seeds to come. Through much tending, sun, rain, and valuable lessons learned well, vision bears fruit. Everything flows within allotted times. Each step, each season is pivotal-important. Every stage of development from the formation of the land at My word to the first fruit picked is orchestrated by Me. I never get dismayed by any step along the way for I know the necessity of each. Because of this knowing there is joy. You are made to walk in this joy, My joy.
Remember, nothing happens overnight and nothing is hidden from My constant gaze. I am active on your behalf. Just because you can always see something, like a seed hidden in the earth, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Beware of making assumptions or speculations based of what you see or do not see. Come to Me and I will still your heart and show you things you do not know.
Therefore, My child, don’t look with an anxious heart nor judge yourself harshly. Embrace your process with determination, for out of it comes the answer, the next stage of growth. The land was created by My word and your life was formed in the secret depths of your mother’s womb. Before there was ever a twinkle in your father’s eye I knew you and My plans for you. Knowing this will keep you from having an anxious, discontent, and disparaging heart. (Philippians 4:6).
Seasons Of Growth
I never force you into being something that you aren’t, nor do I say bear this or that kind of fruit before it is time. There is always fruit appropriate to the season; appropriate to your stage of growth. You have done well. You matter. You matter to Me.
Remember the lessons learned and do not disparage yourself. You are much farther than you think. The only barricade that can stop you now is believing a lie from the enemy about your progress. So, put on My armor “daily”. Put off the old man and when the enemy shoots arrows of doubt and accusation you will be prepared to overcome any onslaught (Ephesians 6:10-18 Ephesians 4:22)).
Trust in My character and goodness. Know this; I change not (Hebrews 13:8). I am for you and not against you. I planned everything before you were ever born and I will bring it to pass (Ephesians 2:10).
All of creation waits for your revealing (Romans 8:19). Even as I have urged you to be patience with the weak, to encourage the faint hearted, I also want you to do these things for your own self. Have patience. Have My patience. Incline your self to Me for I hear your cry (Psalms 40:1).
Be anxious for nothing and remember, I am pleased with you. I am looking off in the distance to your harvest and I see a crop about ready to yield the fruit of a lifetime (Philippians 4:6). All I can say is, “It is good, very good and you are good, very good!”
Time Has Come
Now the time has come for you to stand on the porch of your life, with face to the horizon. Much work has been completed and your garden is preparing for its harvest. Don’t look back! I am arising upon you and My light has come. Clouds are gathering in the early and late rain (Deuteronomy 11:14). New wine and oil are your portion.
My clouds are releasing rain over you, enabling many seeds planted in the soil of your heart, to respond and grow. There are many seed lying dormant, forgotten about by you but not by Me. As a matter of fact, some things will spring up in your life causing you to wonder where they came from. Trust Me, I am the Master Gardener. I know which seeds to plant when and where. My watering skills are impeccable. I am the original miracle growing fertilize…I am the Miracle.
Therefore, like the farmer who waits with patience and faith, trusting in the goodness of God, so must you. (James 5:7, Galatians 6:9). Do not wait with a “maybe attitude.” Have a heart filled with anticipation and hope. Watch the horizon and know your time has come. What was once an overgrown, neglected piece of wooded land has now become a fruitful field, a dispenser of lush and much needed fruit. It is beginning to rain.
Decree And Proclaim
Yes, it is beginning to rain and continue to rain it will, only stopping to keep the ground of your heart and land from flooding, thereby washing away the rich soil of your heart. Things must have adequate rain and sun in proper measure. New and tender growth is spring forth out of the sunshine and rain (2 Sam 23: 3-5). You must say it is so.
It is time for you to decree what I have spoken to you today and in days gone by. My Word always accomplishes the purpose for which it is sent. Like the farmer who fertilizes his crop, you must fertilize the soil of your heart with My Word both logos and rhema. It is imperative for healthy growth in the natural and in the spirit. Do you trust Me? Do you believe what I say about you before even one sprout is out of the ground? My words to you like crops have different planting and harvest times. Patience and perseverance are necessary ingredients and will be cultivated if you understand process. Understanding of timing and process are meant to free you.
Just do as I ask moment to moment and all will be well, all the while decreeing, “I, once a neglected piece of land have now become a fruitful field, a dispenser of lush and much needed fruit. I am filled with hope and anticipation. While rain is falling on me, I am waiting in a posture of complete trust and worship. I love and I am loved. My time has come. ” Selah…
Prayer
Sometimes Lord I have been so visionary that I have disdained the process. Sometimes I even felt the difficulty of the process represented my lack of validity-my lack of ability. Thank you for showing me the truth. You have me right where I am supposed to be at this very moment. I embrace it. Uncovering, removing, nurturing, restoring, and planting are all a part of the process.
At times I underestimated the value of fruit already present in my life, looking for some grander thing. All good fruit is of value to You. There is fruit for every season. Please forgive me for judging myself harshly. I embrace the soft rains as well as the plough. Thank you for the years of preparation; cleaning and redemption of my land. Show me any judgments I have made in reference to my own value and I will release them. I agree with You. I am fruitful and profitable in the hands of my mighty Lord. Teach me more. Amen
Reflect and Journal
“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:10-12 NIV)
1. In what ways have you struggled with your process?
2. Ponder some of the lessons you have learned and how they can be applied to your current circumstances.
3. Have you devalued any of the seasons of your life or held on to any failures of the past?
4. Put aside your anxious thoughts and reflect on being the twinkle in His eye.
5. Have you ever been forced by anyone to be something you are not. Forgive, forgive, and forgive some more!
6. Forgive yourself and shed any garments other than the ones He wishes for you to wear. Put on His words, “Your are good!”
7. What judgments have you made in reference to your own value?
8. Reflect on Him as your Master Gardener resurrecting seeds once dormant in your life.
9. What is He saying to you about them?
10. What are you feeling as the Lord tells you your time has come?
11. Reflect on how crops have different planting and harvest times.