Seeds Planted

By Michelle Wallace

The principle of reaping and sowing is not just about money. When we plant a seed it will bear fruit. And just as a tree bears certain fruit based on environment, etc., we can bear healthy, good fruit or rotten fruit. When we encourage and lift up others, the word says we will be watered or encouraged in return. We all know people who are just life giving and fun to be around. We’re better people for hanging around them. Then there are others who sow seeds of discord and negativity everywhere they go. We can feel drained by being with them even for a short amount of time. Seeds—seeds of money, seeds of the spoken word, time, talents, the list goes on and on. God put this law of reciprocity in the universe. He is a giver and likewise, we should give.

I love this story of a little boy named Josiah. His name means “fire of the Lord.” He was born Oct. 4, 2005, a healthy baby boy. At 22 months old, he experienced a dramatic shift, lost eye contact, words, and play skills. When Josiah was diagnosed with severe autism, his mom felt like they had been handed a prison sentence. No known cause, no known cure. How could a good God have allowed this to happen, and how could she find hope for their future. But Josiah’s parents sowed seeds of prayer. They looked to every source available for answers and above all they looked to God. Tahni said she wouldn’t even say she had great faith, she just kept trying to trip in God’s direction.

Five years later Josiah was still nonverbal. He had not been traditionally taught to read or write, but Tahni learned of a particular method. Children who were otherwise thought to have minds of a toddler were actually taught to learn and spell through pointing at letters on a stencil board or paper. Tahni introduced the iPad. One particular day she read from The Children’s Bible, the story of Jesus healing the blind man. Tahni wrote the words heal and play on pieces of paper. She asked Josiah, “Did Jesus H-E-A-L or did he P-L-A-Y with the blind man?” Josiah correctly chose the word heal. So Tahni asked him to spell the word using the letters on the iPad. And Josiah began typing. When he pressed the letter G, his mom thought he missed it. But to her amazement he went on to write his first independent sentence. And it was this—God is a good gift giver. A whole new world was opened as Josiah’s parents were able to communicate with him. What was his favorite color, his favorite foods? But there was more. Josiah began to type profound wisdom about heaven, angels, God’s goodness and love. He even typed sentences about strangers whose lives he understood.

I believe there are so many with seemingly hopeless circumstance. You’ve given up. But no matter how old or dead a dream might be, God has not forgotten! When we believe for something and things don’t turn out exactly as we thought they would that doesn’t mean it’s over. Seeds that are planted in faith will always bear fruit.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah he said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.” Now Zechariah became a little cynical and asked how this could be. C’mon, Elizabeth was well past child bearing years. Bill Johnson points out that the original language actually tells more of the story. The statement from Gabriel to Zechariah more accurately translates “your prayers” to “the prayer you no longer prayer.” Wow! Zechariah had planted seeds of prayer that he had given up on. Yet God did not forget.

Psalm 37: 4 tells us to delight in The Lord and the good gift giver will give us the secret petitions of our heart.

Recently, I felt the Lord impressing a question to me. “What is your dream?” I gave Him a general list of dreams, beginning with my household, my city, my nation and more. Very quickly I heard Him respond, “What if I told you I was going to answer those dreams and more.” My heart is overwhelmed as I type these words because I have begun to see some big dreams and desires take shape. I’m looking at small seeds I planted bear fruit. And the thought that He has promised to exceed my wild outlandish imagination, well, it’s infused me with so much faith and so much hope.

Like Tahni or Zechariah, I have seen His faithfulness, His wonders, His inexhaustible love. And I know whom I have believed. He is faithful. The Passion Translation of Psalm 37 reads: “Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes. Fix your heart on the promises of God and you will be secure, feasting on his faithfulness. Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life and he will provide for you what you desire the most. Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust him along the way you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!”

Read the full story of Josiah in the book Josiah’s Fire: Autism Stole His Words, God Gave Him a Voice by Tahni Cullen.

Connect with Michelle at www.HandofTheKing.com.