Have you ever walked through a grove or an orchard when the fruit is dripping off the trees, waiting to be picked? As a girl, I remember walking through my family's small orange grove at harvest time. With the air perfumed with sweetness and the sunshine on my face, I would walk through the towering rows of trees. Every direction I looked, limbs were bowing low, heavy with bright orange fruit. In my little girl mind, I thought there was more fruit in the grove than could ever be eaten. As I grew, I came to understand how hard my father had to work to have a thriving grove. He ensured the ground was rich in nutrients so their roots could grow deep. If vines or weeds grew, he would clear them. He supplied water when the rains didn't come. On cold nights, he used special techniques and equipment to provide the necessary protection and warmth. His goal was that every year, each tree would thrive, regardless of the elements, and produce an abundant amount of good fruit. Our Heavenly Father wants the same thing for you and for me. He wants us to thrive! He wants us to live an abundant life and produce good fruit, no matter our circumstances.
Let's look together at ways God is constantly working behind the scenes, equipping us and providing for us so we can produce an abundant harvest right where we are planted.
Jesus came to clear the way, removing every thorn of sin and stone of shame, and to invite us into a life of freedom where we can flourish. When we let past mistakes and regret entangle us, we are saying to Jesus, "I don't believe what you did was enough to take away my sin." But Romans 8:1 says, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," and in Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Let's write this beautiful promise on a sticky note (you can edit slightly to make it our own) and place it somewhere we will see it daily, so we are reminded that Jesus is calling to us and promising us rest for our souls, allowing us to thrive from the inside out.
When we truly understand the gift that Jesus gives us, it becomes hard not to live our lives from a place of gratitude, which will definitely produce more fruit.Thriving doesn't happen by accident - it comes from being rooted in the right soil. God's Word is our nutrient-rich soil- We have the actual words of God, the author of all creation, at our fingertips. He gives us this wisdom in Psalm 1:2-3, "but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers." So, let's open up our Bibles and plant our hearts in scripture. Let's read and hear God speak to us, encourage us, teach us, and reveal His desires for our lives through His Word. It is a fantastic gift that we have been given, and we need to be immersed in it every day. Those rooted in The Word remain steady through all seasons. Charles Spurgeon said it best when he said, "A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't."
Every orange tree tells a story of patience. Growth first occurs underground, unseen, and it is this process that, in turn, produces good fruit. The tree must rely on the rain, the sun, and even the work of the bees before it can begin to flourish. It isn't in a rush. It simply abides and trusts its Maker will provide. As Christians, we are called to have patience in God's timing and trust in His provision because He loves and cares for us. In Jeremiah 29:11, we are told," For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God is always at work; let's make it a habit to notice even the most minor changes in our lives and, in turn, give glory to God.
A season of drought doesn't define a tree's potential - its roots do. We can stay spiritually alive and remain hopeful, even when circumstances feel barren, because our life source never runs dry. Jesus is calling us by name and consistently offers us His living water. We need to reflect and ensure our roots haven't strayed in a different direction from our source of life. For Jesus warns in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." We need to live in the 2nd part of this verse. Let Jesus, the one who wants us to have an abundant life, be our source of refreshment, rejuvenating us and giving us hope.
- We are never alone. Just like the farmer whose team consistently checks on the grove, we have a helper who is always with us. In John 14:16, Jesus promises, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever." The Holy Spirit of God lives within us. He is our counselor, our guiding light; he shares gifts from God with us, and we get to be the vessel that produces an abundant harvest. Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
This month, let's make Ephesians 3:17-19 our life verse. "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." As Christ followers, we are filled to the measure(overflowing) with the fullness of God. WOW! He has provided more that we need, he asked Jesus to clear the way, provided us with His Word and Living Water as our foundation and nourishment, and gave us a caregiver that remains with us. When we begin to grasp that He does all this because He loves us, how can we not produce an abundant harvest all for His glory?
Father God,
Thank you for sending Jesus, my Redeemer, who came so that I might have life and have it abundantly. Through the help of your Spirit, let my life bear an abundant harvest in every season. Let my days overflow with gratitude, purpose, and love, all for your glory.
In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen
