Journal Entry #9 Sowing & Reaping

Being careful not to disturb Evelyn from her nap, I eased out of the front door and took a seat on the porch of my home. Volume of my earbuds on max, bobbing to "Intentional" by Travis Green, I took a minute to inhale it all in. Exhaling the fragrance of Spring, soon to be Summer, I looked across my freshly trimmed lawn and hedges and let out a deep sigh.. "We're finally here!! The season of Reaping and it feel so surreal!" I laughed.

Sowing and Reaping

Do you know the beautiful thing about Sowing and Reaping? Its a principle that work for the sinner as well as the saint. In just about everything that we do, we're either doing one or the other, sowing seeds or reaping a harvest. Galatians 6:8 reminds us that "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life." But Pam, what exactly is Sowing and Reaping? Here's an example, one wouldn't sow countless of years as a Police Officer into the work force without expecting a retirement right? Michael Jordan sowed thousand of hours into practice and in return, he became one of the greatest basketball stars of all time. Spiritually so, one wouldn't spend every weekday morning in prayer for an hour without expecting answers, miracles, or spiritual growth. Rather you sow seeds into the flesh or spirit, expect a harvest. On the flip side, it is such thing to sow into the flesh and in return reap death, corruption. For instance, someone that has lung cancer didn't reap it from a puff here and there. No, they sowed into their sickness, the decline of their health by abusing nicotine for years.

Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin brother to Esau, was a marvelous sower if you ask me. The story, Jacob was cooking soup one evening when his brother Esau came in, hungry and weary asking for a bowl. Jacob wanted to know what exactly was Esau willing to give up to satisfy his hunger. "Sell me your birthright as of this day" (Genesis 25:31) Jacob, here playing on the weakness, hunger of his brother Esau, by asking him for his first born blessing. Sowing into trickery. Later, after Esau swore his birthright to his brother, Jacob sowed even more into trickery, by deceiving his half blind Father, Isaac into actually imparting the blessing to him. Jacob fled from the land of his Father in fear out the rage of his brother into the land of Padan Aram, a relative of his Mother. While there, Jacob met Rachel, a shepherdess and proceeded to marry her. He gave his word to Rachel Father that he would work seven years for his daughters hand in marriage. Well ... at the altar, Jacob thought he was taking Rachel as his devoted wife, only to be deceived by Rachel Father, into marrying Leah, the older sister. Jacob asking "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you for? Why then have you deceived me?" (Genesis 29:25) Now... did not years prior Jacob tricked his brother and Father?? His seed of trickery sown then, was ripe for harvest.

Lets take a look at some of the many ways you can reap Life ...

Sowing seed of money .. reaping a harvest of financial blessings, especially in the time of lack, etc.

Sowing seed of time .. reaping aid/help, word of encouragement in your time of discouragement, etc.

Sowing mercy .... reaping mercy in your time of mercy, etc.

Sowing kindness, forgiveness during adversity ... reaping a witness/soul to Jesus, etc.

Sowing into prayer .... salvation, deliverance, breakthrough, blessings, healing, a deeper relationship with The Father, etc.

Sowing, meditating on scripture ... victory in Battle, the spirit of wisdom and revelation, physical strength, inner strength, building of Faith, peace that surpasses understanding, etc.

Sowing into worship, reaping clarity, soul healing, Voice of God, etc.

I could go on and on about the beautiful benefits of sowing into Life. For years I sowed into the lives of others with either money, words of encouragement, prayer, a ride, a place to stay, etc. On last year, during a time of lack, others sowed into my life. I made it through with blessings that came from God but through men. "Sowing" is a lesson that I will always be a student of. Give cheerfully and freely. It will come back to you in some of the most miraculous ways, in your most unexpected season of life. "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matthew 10:8)

Jesus Is Just That Good,

Pamelia Walker