Missed Part 1? Read it here.
Remember
During times of harvest and times of hope, it’s important to stop and remember.
Remember God’s provision.
Remember that the God of history is the same God of the present and the same God of the future.
Remember God’s faithfulness over time.
Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses commanded them, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life” (Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV). “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 5:15a ESV).
And we not only pause and remember, we testify about it to others. We testify as encouragement, to help others feel hope, and to remember that your God is their God, too.
Remembering keeps us hoping.
What do you remember that reminds you to hope in God?
A Story of Harvest and Hope
We read of harvest and hope in the account of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2:22-38.
Simeon waited (vs. 25) and had hope that he would see the Savior (vs. 26). And he rejoiced in the harvest of that hope (vs. 29-32).
Anna waited and hoped (vs. 37) and gave thanks in the harvest of her hope (vs. 38).
Is this passage we see waiting, but not giving up hope. We see action through gathering, fasting, and praying. We see testimony given.
And again, we see God’s perfect timing. Jewish law required all first born (children and animals) to be consecrated to the Lord. That’s why Mary and Joseph were at the temple. However, Jewish law did not require the child to be present at the temple. Jesus didn’t have to be there. But Mary and Joseph brought Him, and therefore Simeon and Anna saw the fruition of their hope. Again, how cool is that?!
How have you seen God take your hopes and desires, change them to His desires, and then provide a harvest in your life in unexpected ways?
So, how do we live in both harvest (the present) and hope (the future)?
We might not harvest the seeds we plant, but we have hope that God will grow the seeds and send someone else to harvest them.
We take action so we can have hope. (Proverbs 10:5; Romans 15:4)
We trust in the process and have hope that God’s plans for us and for others will be fulfilled in His time. (Luke 24:13-35; Jeremiah 29:11)
Rough times lead us to have hope. (Romans 5:2-5)
We get tired and overwhelmed, but we have hope for relief. (Galatians 6:9; Psalm 42:5)
We serve God on Earth and have hope for His return and our eternal life with Him in Heaven. (Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:19)
We find joy and peace in the provision of the harvest, so we believe, having hope. (Romans 15:13; Hebrews 10:23)
How do you live in both harvest and hope?
How do we focus on harvest and hope during the holidays? Because the holidays aren’t all holly and jolly for everyone, and it may be a season of busy schedules, financial stress, and uncomfortable family gatherings.
Look at your schedule. . . and just say “no”. Last December I didn’t go to any parties, and it was awesome. In fact, I had room in my schedule to do some other things I was excited to do.
Pause. . . intentionally. And listen. God speaks when we quiet ourselves and pay attention to how He’s moving around us. I recently experience a difficult situation at work, and the morning I woke up feeling the weight of the burden God used my morning Bible reading and the songs on the radio to remind me of His faithfulness. I would have missed it if I wasn’t paying attention.
Be thankful for small things. Look for gifts from God. Last year I was blessed to lead the music on Christmas Eve. Initially I was concerned that I’d be burnt out by then, but I realized this special service was God’s Christmas gift to me, and it completely changed my perspective (and it was a great night!).
Share your harvest. Whether tangible or testimonial, share what God has blessed you with (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).
How do you focus on harvest and hope during the holidays? How do you focus on harvest and hope after the holidays?
I leave you with these powerful and encouraging words: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:19-21 ESV).
Happy Thanksgiving!
