Devotional:
Do you ever find yourself working hard to see a change? Maybe you have done what God said, but because you don't see a result, you feel that you need to do more?
In life, we have been taught to seek instant gratification. If there isn't an immediate return on effort, there must be a problem. But if you just planted a tomato seed yesterday, because you don't see growth today, does that mean the seed won't sprout into a tomato? Absolutely not! There are other factors that play a role in the fruition of that plant. The sun, the rain, the fertility of the soil and more.
When God gives you an instruction in the form of a seed, there are many other factors that play a role in that seed reaching full maturation. Just as you can't determine the behavior of the sun or the rain, there's another important factor that only God determines. That is the magnitude of the increase and also when the increase happens.
Scripture tells us that no matter a person's personal attributes that time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Meaning everyone will have a moment for their seed to experience increase. But only God can determine when that time is.
Don't lose focus by dancing with "busyness". Focus on following every instruction God gives. Know that in due season you shall reap a great harvest and none of the work you have done will be in vain.
Scripture(s) Meditation:
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”
I Corinthians 3:6-7 NKJV
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
“I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.”
Ecclesiastes 9:11 NKJV
“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Galatians 6:8-9 NKJV
Reflection Question(s): We invite you to discuss below.
If you understand that God is the one who brings the increase, why do you continue to try and do more to gain more? What keeps you from following the instruction of the Lord and waiting on Him? Have you always struggled with patience? What is the root cause of this? How can you learn to exercise patience more effectively?
Sun'Ray💕
I feel through the battles we face it wavers our in the mirage of our own desires then in turn shakes our patience. Well I can say for me this is how I deal with it it's a process that starts first so I have to keep kicking the enemy out of my thoughts or is it me that thinks that way is my question..
I think I personally strive to do more even though knowing and understanding very well that God brings the change and increase, is due to me still in my ways of always needing to be busy and own insecurity of "thinking/feeling" I'm not doing enough or being enough for The Lord as I am, and this world telling you do more to get more. And also at times letting others who know nothing about the progress of my walk with The Lord, tell me I'm not doing enough whether by fasting, praying, sowing, spending time, etc trigger those insecurities within me of why I don't see results, why others are getting results and I'm not. Which is all me and…
I definitely STRUGGLE with patience! Everything that’s in this devotion really states the problem. I have to start understanding/believing that God will do what he says he’ll do. Sitting around and waiting on something that has NO date is the hardest thing in life! God is good…