Bumper Crop -- of Answered Prayer.

This time of year, green is the basic pallet color where I live—rolling hills of varying shades of green against the blue and white sky.

It won't be long, though, before those hills turn gold and harvest begins. This should be a bumper crop year.

 

Paul commended the Colossians (1:3-8) for their special bumper crop. In their valley, the Gospel was bearing fruit and growing—in them and through them—so much so that the news had reached Paul's ears (he'd not been to Colosse). These believers were an example of the blessed blessing others

 

What if God has a vision for a special bumper crop of answered prayers and we—you and me—are His farmers?

 

That vision, then, begins with us.

 

In order to make sure we harvest this bumper crop, it requires "proper preparation to prevent poor performance"—a plan. How will we keep ourselves saturated in the Word of God? How will we stay close to the Lord in prayer? And, so vital, how will we stay in praise and thanksgiving? These are all essential to a bountiful harvest of answered prayer.

 

We moms know that summer's haphazard schedule can do us in sometimes more quickly than the busy school months. Our children's schedules are all over the place with VBS, camp, swimming lessons, etc. And, our schedules have changed along with theirs. Bible studies, growth groups, and even prayer groups are on break while the children are out of school.

 

Successful farmers recognize that following a plan is the most effective method to give the increase needed for the harvest. So, we each have to be deliberate in our planting and watering. And, we have to stay intentionally close to the One who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3). Then, we will see the bumper crop of answered prayer.

 

My dear ladies, the enemy would have us. Prayer warriors are bulls-eye targets on his radar. Beware. As Beth Moore wrote, "Stay in the Word, Sister. Knees to the floor, eyes to the skies."

"For this reason [I] … do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."

Colossians 1:9-12