I asked a dear farmer friend, “What are your thoughts when you plant?” He quickly replied, “I see the harvest!”

Think about that. My friend is a seasoned farmer. He has “put-in” a lot of crops. He knows the hard work that lays ahead. He has experienced the enormous risks of poor crop prices, insects, bad weather, equipment breakdowns and the unknowns of health, family and finding workers, yet he is thinking about the potential…the harvest. He is looking through the ”now” and “sees” the harvest. This imagery will play a key role in his “finding a way” through the hard times of the next few months.

This Principle of “Looking At The Harvest” has many applications. The First Lesson, Jesus taught us in Luke 15. He gave us 3 Parables about the value of ONE. There was the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. All these point to how Jesus sees and values us by name. Jesus sees our potential of a 100-fold…of what we can be. The Harvest. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10. Let these 2 verses whisper to your heart. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:16 Yes, He, the King of Kings, has called you, warts & all, to follow Him! Then we have the Promise of His Power & Presence from “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

The Second Lesson is looking through the “hardships of now” to the Harvest. Like my farmer friend, he is under no illusion about the risk and the problems that will arise during the crop year, but he cannot allow himself to become paralyzed by the impossible. This is what Jesus was telling us in John 16:33. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I learned this lesson 31 years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer. God led me to Matthew 14:22-33 about a terrible storm. All the disciples thought they were going to drown. Then Jesus walks by on the raging water. Jesus invited them to come to Him and Peter responds. “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink.” Peter took his eyes off Jesus. Only Jesus has the power to reach down and jerk you out of your impossible situation. Peter learned this “No-Matter-What” Principle, never take your eyes off Him.

So, what do we do between the planting and harvest? Paul answers that question very clearly, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14. Paul did not take his eyes off Jesus…his goal.

What do you see?