As we head into another year, I like to both look back at the last one and ahead to the new one. Each year brings its own set of changes that we didn’t plan for or anticipate. We can only react to those things as they come. However, there are things we can be proactive about that create our own change for the future. My favorite quote says, “I don’t measure my day by the harvest that I bring in. Instead I measure it by the seeds that I plant. For in planting seeds, I ensure a future harvest.” What seeds of change are you planting for next year and beyond? What are you doing today to make tomorrow different?
In Genesis 26 it says that there was a severe famine in the land and Isaac moved to the land of the Philistines. Verse 12 says, “When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him” (NLT). He had been forced to move from circumstances beyond his co trip. He could have used that as an excuse to not plant. He could have used the famine as an excuse too, but he didn’t. Instead we see that Isaac planted seeds and reaped an incredible harvest. God blessed what he sowed. Not only did he reap a huge harvest, the next couple of verses say that he acquired lots of livestock as well.
2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.” It’s easy to make excuses for not doing things today. The timing may never feel right to take risks, make changes or plant seeds. Plant anyway. God will only multiply the harvest of seeds that are planted. Even if you plant a few seeds, you will still reap a small harvest. What areas of your life do you want God to bless? Plant seeds there. What areas of growth do you want to experience? Plant seeds there. God is ready to bless and give you an increase, but you have to plant seeds. He created the law of sowing and reaping. Don’t delay another day. Start planting seeds of change for next year now.
Photo by Binyamin Mellish on Pexels.
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 