50 Days to More: Day Forty-Six
50 Days to More
A Seven Week Campaign to Begin 2018
Week 7: Sowing Uncommon Seeds with Expectation
Day Forty-Six (2/21/18): Sowing Expectantly
Recommended Reading: Psalm 62:1-8
If we want to get anything back from the seeds we sow, we have to sow them with expectation. We have to have faith in God’s promise and trust that he will grow our seeds. Faith assures us of the things that we are expecting.
It’s important to note that expectation is closely related to “hope”, but it is so much more than just hope. When you hope for something to happen (or NOT happen), there’s a chance that you will not get the outcome you desire. It’s a wish. The wonderful and exciting thing about expectation is that it’s not vague or mysterious. It’s real, tangible, and powerful! Expectation is the thing that ties you to your seed. It is a rope that will pull you out of despair and toward your destiny!
In order for this to happen, you must wrap your seed in a coat of expectation. There is a skin surrounding every seed called a “seed coat”. This coat protects the seed from any outside damage until the seed is ready to sprout. It takes care of the seed from the time of sowing until the time of reaping.
In a spiritual sense, the “seed coat” that protects our seeds is expectation! The waiting time between planting a seed and reaping a harvest isn’t easy. But our faith and expectation for God to fulfill his promises to us protects our seeds. To wrap your seed in a coat of expectation, there are four things you must do.
1. Name your seed. Yes, actually give your seed a name. Your tithe isn’t just your tithe, and a missions offering isn’t just a missions offering. They are seeds of honor that are directed toward a specific harvest! Be specific.
2. Aim your seed. This goes along with expecting a harvest. We should sow our seeds with a desired outcome. They can be aimed toward your dreams, assignments, or anything else that you trust God to do.
3. Claim your seed. We tend to struggle in this area. Sometimes, it isn’t easy to think we’re worthy of being blessed. Satan loves to convince us that we aren’t good enough to receive God’s blessings. Don’t fall for this lie! We are not worthy, but Jesus’ blood makes us worthy!
4. Commit to your seed. Don’t go digging up your seed once you plant it. Sowing is a sacrifice, and sometimes we tend to let doubt creep in. We wonder if we just gave something up for no reason. But that expectation that we have in God will help us believe that in due time, we will indeed see our seed come back tenfold!
Today, think about a specific seed that you’re desiring to sow. When you’re ready to sow it, do it with expectation and follow these four steps. You’ll be on your way to seeing increase in your life!
“So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.” Proverbs 24:14 (KJV)
Compiled by Christine Thompson & Meredith Hobbs
Taken from the Sermon Series “7 Steps to One Thousand Times More”
By Pastor Timothy Coats
Family First Church - Spring Hill, Florida