Sow Seeds Now for a Spring Harvest

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. ~ Luke 6:31

Sow new seed for a new harvest.

The first two months of the Hebraic civil year it is both seedtime and harvest. Having harvested what we sowed in the past, it is now time to consider what we would like to reap in the future. If I plant tomato seeds, I will reap tomatoes. Ergo, if I sow seeds of contention and strife I will reap contention and strife. However, if I sow seeds of peace and kindness, I will reap peace and kindness. Remember, give extravagantly, keeping in mind that whatsoever you sow, you will reap. (Gal. 6:7) The one who sows sparingly will reap sparingly. (2 Cor. 9:6)

The Feast of Ingathering/Tabernacles/Sukkot [15- 21 Tishri] is the final harvest of the Hebraic year. Once the harvest season has ended we begin preparations for the next planting season. This gives us an opportunity to consider what kind of seed we intend to sow. The new season gives us a chance to change the seed we have sown in the past, and thereby change what we harvest in the future. The harvest of one season provides the seed for the next, and so on. We don’t eat our seed. We plant seeds.

Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3-4 AMP

Worship and prayer is one way to plant seeds in our relationship with God. Showing kindness rather than impatience and intolerance develops attributes of mercy and grace in our lives.

This is a time to consider the patterns we have developed in our lives. It is a great time to implement a new behavior or add to our daily rituals. For instance, by adding the discipline of exercise to my weekly rituals, I will reap the benefits of a healthier body.

Hebrews 12:7-11 ~ Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.

I hear the Lord saying: “Sow seeds now for a Spring harvest.” This means actions we do now will reap a quick result, beginning at Passover.

Continuing, the Spirit of the Lord says: “Sow seeds of mercy. Sow seeds of grace and empathy. Sow seeds of kindness toward others and remember self care. Make sure your boundaries are firm. Enforcing your boundaries doesn’t have to be a fight. Confrontations don’t have to lead to violence. Many will have to stand their ground and hold the line this month. A kind NO, is still a NO. Say NO to those who would otherwise run gunshot over you. My intention is for your benefit. Self care means carving out a space for tending to your needs no matter the flurry that seems to be buzzing all around. You need time with Me,” says the Lord, “Time to be refreshed, time to be renewed by My presence, and time to hear My heartbeat. It will be during these trysts that you will receive wisdom, insight and strategies for the days ahead. You are going to need what I have stored up for you. Sow into our relationship. Spend time with Me and reap a bountiful harvest.”

Scripture verses for Cheshavan 5783

Isaiah 55:8-11 ~ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

Hosea 10:12 BSB ~ Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.

James 3:18 AMP ~ And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals].

GALATIANS 6:8 AMP~For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

PROVERBS 22:8 BST ~ He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but a man shall fully prove the folly of his works.

JOB 4:8 BSB ~ Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

PSALM 126:5-6 NASB ~ Those who sow in tears shall harvest with joyful shouting. One who goes here and there weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

DO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Doing acts of righteousness doesn’t mean being a jerk to people we deem unrighteous. Performing acts of righteousness is action done in, with and by the Spirit of the Lord. We have been made righteous but the blood of Jesus. We do not have license to condemn others.

Sowing seeds of accusation and condemnation reaps a harvest of accusation and condemnation in our lives. Blaming reaps blame. If we seem to find ourselves always being treated poorly by others, we may need to do what AA calls doing a fearless moral inventory. A rigorously honest assessment of our own shortcomings rather than an evaluation of someone else’s defects is much more beneficial.

This is a time to examine the seed have been sowing. If our last harvest brought an abundance of accusation, shame and trouble we need to change the seeds we are sowing, for seeds of grace and mercy. When we judge others we ourselves are judged.

This is what the LORD says: “Guard justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed.” Isaiah 56:1 NASB

THE MONTH OF CHESHVAN

    Eighth month – new beginnings and revisting covenant

    Hebrew letter nun, which is associated with Messiah, and faith

    Tribe of Manasseh – a time to forget the trouble of the past.

Genesis 41:51 ~ Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”

    The flood during the time of Noah began in Cheshvan and ended in Cheshvan the following year. This is a time of renewal. It is also a time to remember God’s covenant with us.

    Cheshvan is associated with myrrh. Myrrh oil is a type of healing balm.

GOING FORWARD IN 5783

The first two months (Tishri and Cheshvan) will set the course for the remainder of the year. What we sow at the beginning, we will reap in the end. Remember kindness and mercy. Remember, ‘a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’ (Pr. 15:1) Spend quality time with the Lord. We will be glad we did. We are going to need the strategic wisdom and counsel that comes from spending time in the presence of the Lord. Maintain appropriate boundaries. Be encouraged. Be strengthened.

Keep in mind: the first quarter of 5783 is connected with restoration. This is a time to be restored.

Blessings,