The month of April is a time when our hearts turn to thoughts of rebirth and renewal. We celebrate Easter, we enjoy family gatherings, we even have more sunshine so we can plant gardens. It is a lovely month to renew our vision!
After the difficult year of 2020, I want to encourage us with TRUTHS to help us appreciate a beautiful springtime for 2021. As we celebrate Easter, we remind ourselves how deeply GOD LOVES US. As we gather with family and friends, we can SHOW God’s love to them. As we plant seeds in our gardens, we remember how God continually wants to plant “new SEEDS of victory” inside of us!
In Jeremiah 29:11, God says “I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU.” He wants to take us to a new level of victory and give us fresh vision. But for this to happen, the SEED must take root in our heart. Before our dreams ever come to pass, we must look through eyes of faith and visualize the plan God is showing us.
The enemy does not want you to fulfill your dreams, so he immediately tries to uproot the SEED God planted. You can defeat the enemy by focusing on God’s Promises. My Grandmother taught me to memorize and speak aloud my favorite Bible verses. Later, I learned to plant victory SEEDS in the hearts of women in prison. Today, they are planting their own victory gardens on the outside.
Here is a delightful story I’ll always remember. It took place in the home of my friend Jane, in Kingsburg. I often spoke for her Bible Study composed of women all ages. One time I prayed God would give them fresh vision, and a lady laughed saying, “I don’t think so! I’m in my 80’s and I am too old for God to give me a new vision!” I was embarrassed, but those who knew her thought it was amusing.
When I later returned, this same lady presented us all with gorgeous Greeting Cards. She had lovingly painted them herself. She explained she was an artist when she was young, and sold many of her paintings. She said, “I prayed like you said, and God showed me how to create these greeting cards for the shut-ins.”
May we accept the challenge and ask God to give us a fresh vision for this season. He will show us the kind of victory SEEDS to plant. God has planned a harvest!
2 Corinthians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.