PROTECT YOUR SEED. A newly planted seed is in its most vulnerable stage. It needs constant care and protection from the elements. It takes anywhere from two weeks to a month for a seed to germinate. The wise teacher instructs us:

“In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hands, for you know not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭

Jesus told a parable concerning the Word of God- it is a seed sown and what soil it lands in determines whether or not it will produce. (Matthew 13:1-23) We are told by Scripture that Satan comes immediately to steal the seed that was sown. When God speaks a Word to you, then you have to plant it immediately and protect it. It is in its most fragile stage.

Let me give you an example the Lord showed me years ago. My husband and I are church planters. We started with two other couples meeting in an elementary school. Probably not the best plan, but it was what we knew to do. My son was almost three and my daughter was three months. Our family was already in a difficult season. In those beginning years, the enemy fought hard to steal our seed and destroy it. He sent many divisive people to cause chaos and confusion. If you’ve ever wondered why newly planted churches get all the crazy church hoppers and disgruntled, rebellious people, this is why.

A newly planted seed is fragile. The enemy seeks to destroy what God is planting. In those early years, we worked morning and at night and did not remove are hands from the plow. The enemy worked hard at causing weariness and frustration in us and spoke the lie, “Is this what God really said to do?”

We questioned the calling and voice of the Lord. I had many many times thought, “this is not worth the trouble”. I didn’t sign up to be misused, talked bad about and abused by others. Oh yeah. I forgot. I did sign up for that when I answered the call. I signed up to be hated by all for His name. We kept covering, watering, fertilizing that seed and finally it began to take root and grow. This year will be our 20th year of ministry and the church is grown from an acorn to a beautiful oak.

Protect your seed. It is in its most vulnerable stage. What has God spoken to you? Protect that Word. Plant it in your heart and do not cast your pearl before swine. Not everyone will understand, nor are they meant to. We had many people, even pastors tell us, “Do not plant a church!” They always had various reasons for telling us this. It was very discouraging. We knew what the Spirit had spoken to us and we began to share that seed with people who believed in us.

Surround yourself with people who will pray with you and for you. Surround yourself with people who will believe God for the harvest and plug your ears to the lies of the enemy, even if they are coming out of the mouth of family. Water that seed. It takes a lot of prayer to bring the seed to fruition. Pray, pray and pray some more. Fast and pray. Pray in the Spirit and pray with your understanding. Pray in faith, fully convinced that God will do what He said He would do. Cover your seed with continual prayer.

““For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 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.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:10-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Trust God. I promise you, God will accomplish His will and He will do what He said He would do. He is faithful. You must be faithful to do all He tells you. Yes, God requires faithfulness from His people. Faith is a full reliance and trust in God and what He says.

Don’t just believe in God, believe Him and take Him at His Word. Cut out every voice but His voice. Obey His commands. Faith without work is dead faith. You have to work. You have to plow. You have to water and cover and fertilize. You must be about your Father’s business. There is a waiting season for the seed to begin to produce, but you have work to do while you are waiting. The seed is precious. Protect it.

“Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page