by Lauri Campbell, LAS, Affiliate Coordinator
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
In February’s devotional, we discussed Navigating a Spiritual Winter. April seems like a great time to consider how we might approach a Spiritual Season of Spring, especially since many of us are fresh from the Conference in Cincinnati or the virtual Conference. New ideas abound!
When God takes us through a Spiritual Spring, it is a time to plant and implement the instructions we received from Him during a Spiritual Winter. He’s doing a new thing that requires our attention and action.
Now is the time to use the fresh, renewed sight He has given us and plant some things that will bear good fruit in our lives and for His Kingdom. The insight and rest we received from the winter season provides spiritual enthusiasm for the hard work of planting.
Has God refined your mission? Calling? Vision? Assignment?
Has your faith been strengthened to accomplish what He’s called you to do?
Has He given you a brand new assignment?
Maybe He simply realigned your heart with your assignment and there’s a holy confidence you lacked before.
Whatever it is, it’s new and God is doing it in and through you. But planting is where the work begins in many ways. It can take the form of training and education to prepare for the harvest of new fruit. It may look like enlisting a mentor to sharpen you professionally or spiritually for the work that lies ahead. A Spiritual Spring can yield new connections that require cultivation in order to steward them well.
The Bible teaches that the work you do now will determine your fruit in the future, so plant wisely. “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." (2 Corinthians 9:6).
The Scripture also makes this promise about sowing/planting:
“...because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:8-9
The Passion Translation says it this way:
“The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life, you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit.” Galatians 6:8 TPT
With your new insight and renewed passion, God is calling you to plant spiritual seeds that will reap beautiful, everlasting fruit in your life. Spiritual fruit that will have a Kingdom impact on those around you.
So, do not grow weary in generously planting spiritual seeds that will bear Christ-honoring fruit. God has promised that you will reap what you sow in due season if you do not give up.