Plant A Lot

17 / Sun –Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 / Luke 6:38

Overview: One way to increase the harvest is through square-foot gardening, i.e., using raised beds. Another is to plant more than once a year. The same applies to generosity: plant a lot, and do it more than once.

18 / Mon – Planting  |  Read James 3:18

Are you a gardener? Spring is that wonderful time of year when you get to plant all kinds of good things. The kind of seeds will determine the kind of harvest you’ll gather. Who are the sowers in this verse? How do they sow and what will they reap? So how are you doing in this department? You can hear all around you the clamor of anger, discord, strife and discontentment. What are some seeds of peace you can plant in your own heart and then share with others?

19 / Tue – Watering  |  Read Psalm 126:5-6

Seeds and plants must have water to grow. It can come from the clouds or from your garden hose but that moisture is essential. Think about the spiritual seeds you’ve been planting. Are some of them accompanied by tears? God often uses sorrowful situations to soften the heart’s soil to allow those precious seeds to take root, but He promises the harvest will be joyful. What are you asking God for? Does it seem impossible at times? Don’t give up. With God, all things are possible.

20 / Wed – Growing  |  Read John 4:36-38 / 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Who planted the seeds of the Gospel in your life? Who watered them? And in whom are you planting those same seeds today? Do you ever worry they may not bear fruit? Don’t be discouraged. When you are, remember this: you plant but it is God who makes those seeds grow. He may bring along another person to nurture the plants into maturity. Then someone else may be sent to reap the harvest. You have co-workers, whom God is using along with you, to accomplish each step of the growing process and you will be rejoicing together at the harvest.

21 / Thu – Resting  |  Read Exodus 20:8-11 / Leviticus 25:1-7 & 20-22

Remember God’s third command in Exodus 20? Sometimes it is challenging to consistently obey this one. What reasons did He give for this command? What new insights do you find as you think about the significance of His instruction? As you read Leviticus 25, are you surprised that God also commanded a whole year of rest for the land? Why could that 7th year of rest be important in our world today? What might that look like in your life?

22 / Fri – The most important seed  |  Read Isaiah 55:9-11

What you believe will come out in your words, your actions, the way you live. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said that the seed was the word of God. He confirms this promise that was given to Isaiah to give to the people. Which of God’s words are you intentionally planting in your head, the ones that will grow deep in your heart and mind?  Are there some bare patches in your life where you need to plant the seed of God’s word? Ask Him to show you and then get started.

23 / Sat – When the harvest comes in  |  Read Proverbs 3:9-10 / Luke 12:15-21

At the start of every harvest, what were God’s people to do? In some cases, the harvest came in waves over a period of time. Why do you think God asked for the first fruits? To acknowledge their dependence on Him? To demonstrate their trust that He would provide all that they’d need later? What was this farmer’s reaction in Luke to his stupendous harvest? What was he really saying to God? How can you counter the temptation he had when considering what God has given you…your money, time, energy, opportunities? How will you show your trust in Him as the ultimate provider?