The Process of Planting

It's been a long planting season here on the farm. A week ago, I found myself doing a job I'd never done and I thought about this process to a depth I never really had before. As I went back and forth across the field cutting cover crop in front of the digger, many thoughts crossed my mind. There are many parts that make up this process...

Planning...My husband doesn't just plant our fields on the spur of the moment. Last winter, he spent time looking at seed, soil samples and other things to get ready for the work we did this spring.

Preparation...Along with planning, planting requires preparation. There's more than simply buying seeds. We have to work the soil and sometimes plant cover crops.

People...We can't do anything alone. It's true, only my husband operates the planter, but others are involved in the process. Even I have had to step out of my comfort zone, take some risks and learn new skills in my years as a farmer's wife.

Patience & Perseverance...When it comes to farming, timing is key. We have to wait for the soil to be ready and then for the crop to grow. It also requires perseverance, the work is rarely easy and the process can be long and drawn out. Farmers must stay focused when there's seed to put in the ground.

Purpose & Perspective...In the long days of planting, when time is short and pressure is on, it's important to keep things in perspective and remember your purpose.

Power...It takes power to plant seeds. We need horse power to pull equipment, but we need God's power to produce a crop.

Prayer...The biggest part of this process is prayer. It helps us be patient, reminds us who has power and keeps things in perspective. This summer we had a lot of rain, which kept delaying our planting. This could have led to worry, but prayer brought peace and reminded us who was in control.

Friend, I don't know if you've ever driven a tractor across the field or relied on a crop to feed your family, but I do know, if you are a Christian this process is for you. Luke 8:11b says, "The seed is the word of God." 

As believers, we have seeds to plant...in our own hearts and in the hearts of others. The process truly is no different. We can plan and prepare. There is work to do before we plant; we must build relationships and ask God to till the hearts' soil. Hosea 10:12 says, "Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."

While we plant, we must be patient and be willing to persevere. Planting spiritual seeds is a process and it too takes time. We must wait on God and trust His timing. We must also remember that people are involved, only God knows our role and the fruit our seeds will produce. May we never forget He has the power! 1 Corinthians 3:6 instructs us, "I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth."

Friend, today I encourage you to take part in the process of planting! The crop you produce will do more than feed your family, it will impact others for eternity!!

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you for the process of planting and the lessons you teach on the farm. May we take spiritual planting even more serious than the work we do in the fields. Help us plan and prepare. May we be patient and willing to work. Help us keep it all in perspective and trust in your power. Lord, we know timing is important, so give us wisdom as when to plant. Thank you for the opportunity to work for you, we praise you for the harvest that is yet to come! In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Then he said to his disciples, 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 

therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest 

to send out laborers into his harvest.” 

Matthew 9:37-38