“A person will reap exactly what he plants.” Galatians 6:7 Today’s English Version
“Control your thoughts and affections, and you govern your life.”
My thoughts today are about “the principle of harvest.”
The mind and heart are fertile places. Things grow there more than you might imagine. Things that are regularly planted there will ultimately be harvested, for the better or worse. Depending upon what you place there. Very possibly, the most fertile ground into which you will ever sow may well be your own mind and heart. And from that fertile place is grown the even more abundant fruit of what you sow there. It is of prime importance that you choose wisely and carefully the kind of seed thoughts and source affections that you allow there.
This principle is true both in this lifetime and for the next: you harvest what you plant, and you also harvest more than you planted. It is wisdom to purposefully sow what you hope to receive, and if you are wise, never sow even the least of anything you would not want in abundance.
The Bible says, “A person will reap exactly what he plants.” First, the bad news. “If he plants in the field of his natural desires, from it he will gather the harvest of death.” Now, the good news! “If he plants in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit he will gather the harvest of eternal life” Either way, here’s the reality you face: “ . . the time will come when we will reap the harvest.” Galatians 6:7-9 TEV. A harvest is inevitable, either as He intends for your blessing, or as you hold the power to choose for your own harm.
Have you noticed that if you dwell upon a worrisome concern, you soon have a growing harvest of anxiety? A little anxiety soon grows to a large and prevailing fear. A temptation pleasantly entertained in the privacy of your mind becomes an unpleasant action on public display. An unhealthy desire soon becomes an unholy appetite. Control your thoughts and affections, and you govern your life. David prayed, “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NLT.
Conversely, think positively and dwell on possibilities, and your faith and confidence grow. The Apostle Paul, unjustly confined to the harsh realities of a Roman prison, wrote, “Cast down every imagination and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ . . . whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, morally excellent, or any praise, think on these things.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5/ Philippians 4:8.
My prayer for you today is: when you plant, consider what you hope to harvest.