Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
MEMORIZE: “If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be” (Eccl. 11:3).
READ: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
Going by Joseph’s experience, a famine can be God’s avenue to fulfil pending prophecies and uplift an individual. May your negative situation birth your promotion in Jesus name.
Another salient lesson from the life of Isaac during the time of famine is that opportunities to overcome such drought can come during that famine period itself. This is another way of saying that most problems come with in-built solutions. For instance, after God told Isaac to remain in Gerar, he was led to do something: “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundred fold: and the LORD blessed him” (Gen. 26:12). This passage does not suggest that Isaac never sowed before the famine, rather, it presupposes that sowing had become a part of him—drought or not. It was not the seeds he sowed before the famine that rescued him, but the ones he sowed during the famine. Some people expect the seeds they sowed before a famine to yield for them during a famine. Even when this is so sometimes, the seeds that will generate a harvest during famine may be required during a time of famine.
“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” (Eccl.11:6). If you sow only in the morning of your life, you may not be able to take your evening harvest. For effective and continuous harvesting, sow both in the morning and evening. Sow when you have in abundance and sow in your lack. Sow when you are happy and when you are sad. Sow when it is convenient and when it is not. Are you going through very harsh economic conditions? That is the best time to sow in order to overcome that famine. Ask God to guide you on what to sow. Go ahead and sow. Isaac sowed seeds. If you do not have cash, you can sow time, prayers, witnessing to souls. You can sow in the area of following up young converts and new comers in your church. Sow kindness, mercy, love and forgiveness. A famine season is a good time to sow.
ACTION POINT:
If you operate the principle of effective sowing and reaping on a regular basis, you may never be stranded at any bus stop of life. Therefore sow at all times.
Bible in One year: Psa. 40-42
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