Sometimes God prepares us for something He sees at a distance down the road. It begins with a ray of light He allows to pierce through our current situation. He sees something in us like a buried treasure—a hidden or dormant gift/talent—and desires to plant a seed of hope in us, that some day we may realize the fullness of what He desires to cultivate—a new kind of harvest.
RELEVANCE
In God’s economy, His seed represents a “first fruit.” He may water this seed for years, allowing us to meditate on a particular subject or interest, research it and even engage in certain activities expressing aspects of the gift. You might call this the incubation stage.
As this seed matures, God brings us through an accelerated growth stage. At some point God prepares us for repositioning. He may cause a job change or bring us to interact with new people and engage in new kinds of activities where we have the opportunity to express new aspects of our growth.
Then we go through a “near harvest” time. This is when growth has reached a point where we engage in higher levels of activity expressing greater measures of the gift. All of our actions represent “first fruit” responses; where we take steps in faith to exercise and use newly grown skills—aspects of the gift. Sometimes this makes us feel a bit awkward. It’s like an eagle beginning to flap its wings and actually gain a little height, then fall back in the nest. The day will come, however, when God provides the right amount of wind that will carry the strengthened upward bound eagle soaring to new heights.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Have you noticed God preparing you for a distant or near repositioning? Ask God how to properly respond. He will open doors of opportunity to exercise your gifts and express your growing interests.
REFERENCES
Genesis 1:11-31; Deuteronomy 11:8-12; 22:9; Isaiah 30:23; Matthew 13:3-9; 31-32