Over 20 years ago when we were first married we moved into a sweet house in the country with lots of beautiful fruit trees. There was a giant fig tree several orange trees and a satsuma tree. They were mature trees that had been there for a long time so we enjoyed massive harvests of fruit each year. (God promised you will harvest where you others have planted) one day I was walking around in the yard praying and the Lord said “That you might bare fruit in every season”.
It made me stop to think of the different fruit that comes at different times of the year. The fig trees bloom at the peak of summer. They are surgery and sweet. All the citrus trees bloom in the fall and winter they are tart tasting but they come to fruition when your immune system needs a boost of vitamin c. What would it mean for me to be fruitful in every season? That I could be what the Kingdom needs in every circumstance! Then I thought of the story of Jesus cursing the fruit tree for not being fruitful when he needed it! It almost seems unfair unless we understand that the fig tree didn’t see Jesus approaching, it wasn’t watching, it didn’t recognize him! It was dormant and unprepared. There are no dormant seasons in the body of Christ the Lord always has need of you.
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
Psalms 1:1-3 NLT
This is a promise for those who love God’s word. Planted along the “riverbank” means connected to the source. Our source is Jesus. He promises us if we seek His kingdom He will add to us everything we need. As you read this you are honoring God by taking time out to build His Kingdom. God takes pleasure in your prosperity. His plans for you are that you prosper and be in good health even as your souls prosper. That is the life he wants for you and you shall have it.
One more scripture to advance this revelation.
“They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:8 NLT
Our family is in the sugar business. Both my family and my husbands family have that background. When I read this verse I think about the planting season, the growing season and the harvest. The planting season is the most difficult and frustrating for the farmers because they have to contend with the intense heat of summer and the rain. The growing season is a time where we have little control over what happens we must pray and trust God. There have been times when I’ve commanded the enemy to give back what he stole during the growing season! The harvest is the toughest time for the mill because we run 24/7, day and night for about 100 days. My husband wakes up throughout the night to check computer screens often I hear him on the phone or sometimes he even has to go back to the mill in the middle of the night just to ensure that the harvest continues.
Can you imagine what it looks like to be fruitful in the planting season, growing and harvest season? Different spiritual fruit comes forth from different seasons of following and depending on God.
“Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!”
Zechariah 8:13 NLT
You are called to prosper in every area of your lives. The church is in a rebuilding time period. You are part of this and have a role to play in building Gods kingdom and therefore you are a symbol and source of blessing. This is the Hebrew month of Shevat which is a month of fruitfulness and prosperity. This is a month to taste and see the goodness of God!
Prayer: Lord grow our faith in Your goodness so we can depend on Your strong right arm for great and mighty things. This is a year we will go deeper into the water and become more connected than ever before to the source. I depth speak to our root systems! As we go deeper the level of refreshing in His presence increases. We will not be bothered by the heat because our perseverance has made us powerful for You so the heat only causes us to flourish and prosper. What the enemy intends as evil toward us will be a stepping stone elevating us to high places of glory that we never could have known otherwise. Each wave of resistance we face will be met with a special anointing from Heaven to press past it and into a position we have never occupied before. We decree over ourselves and the body of Christ in agreement with Your word that as we build Your Kingdom we as individuals and as a body You are adding to us and making us symbols and sources of blessing!
God bless you, Daisy! Beautiful and encouraging word!
Thank you and Shalom.
Beautiful word! Timely. Thank you