What then is Apollos? What then is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s co-workers. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9
I will take delight in them to do what is good for them, and with all My heart and mind I will faithfully plant them in this land. Jeremiah 32:41
I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them. Yahweh your God has spoken. Amos 9:15
My words…
Praise
You’re a God of many vocations: shepherd, judge, defender, king. But today, I pray to You as the loving sower. You don’t drop. You don’t force. You plant – with all Your heart and mind. You planted the Israelites of old. You planted me where I am today. You take fragile, dormant, hardened, injured, apathetic, or wavering spirits, and You tenderly plant us in a place where we can grow and blossom and bear fruit. I am reminded of this loving act whenever I take a seedling and place it in a hole in my garden. I cover it with dirt and water it. I walk by it every day just to see if it has grown even a little. I watch its tiny leaves reach toward the rays of the sun. As it grows, I give glory to You because I had nothing to do with it. Each plant is an exhibit of You in action. Right there in my backyard.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I refuse to grow. It is one of the many freedoms You have bestowed on my free will. There are times when dormancy feels just fine, thank You very much. Sometimes growth hurts – new sprigs busting through old bark. I know that growth produces blessing. Pardon my foolish choice to stay small.
Prayer for others
Father, today many of Your co-workers are planting, not peppers or tomatoes, but new churches bearing Your name. For some, this is a perilous choice. The Enemy’s work is being carried out by godless or pagan agencies who work tirelessly and without conscience to bar the spread of Your Word in their land. They harm and kill Your sowers. I pray for those who put on Your armor each day and work in Your fields. Protect them with Your mighty right arm. Be their forever Rear Guard. And I pray for those who would strike Your workers down or imprison them. You are mightier than their hardened hearts. Soften them to recognize Your love at work. Who wouldn’t want more love in their land?
Thank You
How grateful I am that You are a passionate sower who pays attention to my growth (or lack thereof) and provides me with nutrients through Your Spirit.
More praise
You take delight in Your children and do what is good for them with all Your heart and mind. I am one of those children. You are the gardener of my heart, mind and soul. And I willingly surrender them all to You. Shine on me.
