Remaining Planted in 2020

The following article was contributed by Denisha Rue

They will weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. 

Psalm 126:6

It’s the first full week of 2020 and since the end of November, I’ve been asking the Lord for my word like he gave me at the end of 2018. But as I was watching service online and staring at my wallpaper on my phone I felt at peace knowing that my word of 2020 has remained unchanged, planted. 2019 was rough for so many of us who were expecting God to move in our lives. But the thing is, He is moving. Even now as we speak. We may not see it or feel it, but He’s causing a shift in many of our lives.

What does it mean to be planted in the Lord? In short, it means placing yourself (think of yourself as a seed) in God (soil) that in due season you will reap the harvest. What it doesn’t mean is uprooting yourself when things don’t go your way. I’m a plant mama. My plants thrive being in good soil, watered and sunlight. As Christian women (or men) you are to be planted in the Lord. Praying, reading the word of God and being in community with like-minded believers. When you first “plant” yourself in the Lord, it feels like nothing is happening, because when you plant something it has to take root in order for it to grow. However, what many of us do unfortunately is start moving ahead of God and making things happen for ourselves. We essentially are telling God we don’t trust Him and delaying our harvest when we uproot ourselves.

A great example of this would be Abraham. God promises that he was going to be a father of many nations and have an heir despite his old age (Genesis 12 and 15). But he and wife Sarah stepped out of alignment by uprooting themselves when Sarah gave her servant Hagar to Abraham and bore Ishmael (Genesis 16).

Being planted does not always mean harvest in the next season, I am still to be planted this season. I am doing this because it’s all about God’s timing. Going back to Abraham and Sarah, they eventually did have their son Isaac almost 25 years after the promise God made to Abraham. Sometimes our harvest comes later and sometimes it comes sooner. But if you find yourself in the unfruitful season, rejoice! The harvest is coming! Remain planted, pray and seek the Lord is all things. God’s promises always come to the past.

As we reflect on another year gone, let us rejoice in what’s to come. I encourage you to seek the Lord. For many of us, we need to go back to that secret place where we met God.

Prayer:

Father God, I thank you for all that you are doing in our lives. We may not see it nor may we feel it but I know you are moving in each of our lives. I pray that we meet you back to where you want us. If we’ve strayed far from you, I pray as a shepherd tends to his sheep that you call us back. Your Word says that your sheep know your voice and they come. I pray that in this season of fasting that the only voice we hear is yours. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.