SOWING & REAPING

Prior to becoming a Christian as I define it now (i.e., one who has asked Jesus into her heart to be both Lord and Savior), I hadn’t heard much about the concept of sowing and reaping. I did hear some things from a worldly perspective such as: “what goes around, comes around” and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The concept of sowing and reaping (aside from what the farmers do!) was rather foreign to me.

 

Through the years, I have learned how broadly this concept can be applied. Yes, it is applied in the farming model --- sowing seed into the ground to reap a harvest. I have also learned that this concept pertains to many areas of my life such as finances, my words and, of course, healing, to name a few.

 

I touched on this a bit in the “words” section of this website. I want to share how the words I “sow” can affect my health. As I have mentioned earlier, I learned the importance of being careful with the words I choose to say. Yes, we have a choice when it comes to our words. I choose not to speak of symptoms, or illness. I speak words of healing instead, based on God’s Word. I love what God says about His Word in Isaiah 55:11 – look at these two translations:

 

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (NKJV)

 

In the same way, My words leave my mouth, and they don't come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do. (ERV)

 

I like comparing different bible translations to gain different perspectives. I like how the ERV translation states that words don’t come back without results. While these verses are pertaining to our speaking God’s Word, I need to use caution with the second sentence. I need to remember that my words (if not in line with the Word of God) can make things happen that I don’t want to happen!

 

I’ve shared some moments of my battle with MS for the purpose of providing hope and encouragement. Many people, who have known me for quite a while, never knew anything about the MS diagnosis. They may be quite shocked to find this out based on what they have seen of me, since I do not look like you might think I should look.

 

I refuse to act sick, even if I’m not feeling 100%. I refuse to complain. I refuse to talk about being sick because I believe Jesus paid the price for my health. So then what I “feel” in the natural is not the Truth. The Truth is I’m healed. I refuse to “own” any disease in my body, or take any form of possession of it.

 

Have you listened to commercials on TV about medicines at all? Advertisers do not separate the person from the disease. They refer to “your” arthritis, or “your” diabetes, or “your” cancer, etc. Advertisers want you to wear your disease like it's a coat you never take off.  So does the devil, who is the author of sickness and disease. I just refuse to cooperate with the devil. I don’t even say “I have” MS. I might say I was diagnosed with it, or that I battle it, but I won’t claim it as mine. Make no mistake --- it takes work to undo the negative patterns of the world. It’s not as easy to undo negative programming as you might think.

 

In Charles Capps’ booklet “God’s Creative Power for Healing” he makes a great point that  sticks with me. He says, “The one mistake that so many Christians make is that they call things that are, the way they are. By doing this they are establishing the present condition or circumstance in their heart, mind and also in their body.” Capps also explained how it isn’t lying if you confess you are healed when you’re sick. We are simply calling for the healing that God has already provided, even though it is not yet manifest in the body.  

 

Capps also talked of God’s method to call for positive things, even though they are not yet a reality in my body, or my finances, or anything else I believe for. My flesh (my worldly nature) wants to just say what something is in the natural. I have learned to train myself to say things the way God would want them said. My spirit dictates to my body, not the other way around.

 

Although rather odd at first, I’ve learned that my body does respond to what I say as long as I believe it and don’t doubt God’s Word when I say it. Examples of that are found in the “determination” section of this site. I will have what I say.

 

How often have you heard someone say something like, “Oh, winter is coming. I always get the flu in winter.” Yes, they will most likely get the flu. We reap what we sow by our words. Try thanking the Lord in advance for not getting the flu! “Thank you, Lord, that I won’t get the flu. Thank you that you keep me healthy all year long.”

 

What about all the negativity that spews forth out of a person’s mouth? Have you ever been around someone who is constantly complaining about something? Or constantly sharing negative, rather than positive, thoughts? Not fun – it can really be a downer.

 

I’ve learned that negativity perpetuates negativity. I’ve learned to stop it --- although, at times, I admit I can slip with that. (No one is perfect, right?) I am so thankful to have a spouse on the same “confession” wavelength. We hold each other accountable for our confessions and that helps a great deal. When someone states back to me what I just said and I hear it again, it allows me the opportunity to take those words back and change them to be in line with God’s Word. I do the same for my husband. It’s as simple as saying something like “Hey, do you really want to keep that confession?” Or, “You may want to change that confession.” Or, "Do you really want to receive that?"

 

Learning to change what you say doesn’t happen overnight. This is especially true considering the world we live in. Just take some time to listen to other people’s words ---- there are many more negative than positive. Listen to your own words as well.  I can defeat myself with my words before I even do anything else! I will reap whatever I sow through my words.

 

If your words are not what you want them to be in any area of your life, I encourage you to change! Using wrong words is just a bad habit that needs to be broken. Ask your spouse, or a good friend, to be your helper in breaking the habit. Don’t expect to change overnight. Changing the way we speak can be a long process…..but one well worth the effort!

 

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” (NKJV)

 

Galatians 6:7-9 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 for he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (NKJV)

 

2 Corinthians 9:6 “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (NKJV)

 

Mark 11:23 “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” (NKJV)

 

1 Corinthians 9:10 “Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.” (NKJV)



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