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Devotional
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March 14, 2022

The Waiting Place

March 14, 2022 by COLETTE CORREA SEEING FRUIT Being a woman in ministry Expectations Seeing & not seeing fruit Trust Discouragement
The Waiting Place
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11

There is a place where my patience continues to be tried, my perseverance constantly squeezed, yet a place where my hope still gleams, it is called “the waiting place”. It is a place where I long to see fruit, but where my eyes only see the bareness of unbelief. 


Seeds are being planted in hearts that do accept the word joyfully, but it seems that it does not go deep enough. Others are much more concerned about what family members or neighbors would say if they were to believe, so they do not. Finally, there are those who blatantly reject the word we bring and it immediately bounces out of their heart. After so many years of planting I do wonder - where is the fruit? Where is the one who will take hold of that word and bear 30, 60 and 100 times more, just as it is declared in Mark 4:20? 


Recently, however, God blessed me with a pleasant surprise. A former colleague got in touch with me to thank me for giving her a book to help her study the Bible. She explained she had recently found the book in one of her boxes after 13 years. She mentioned that her finding the book was timely because she had just returned to the Lord and went on to explain that she remembered how much I used to talk about God in the office. 


As I was reading her correspondence and listening to some of the voice messages she left me, I was stunned, as I could not even recall what I had ever shared with her or when I had even given her the book. She sent me a picture to show me the area where I had dedicated to book to her and it read: “Dear Chanel, I pray this Bible Handbook becomes a great companion to you as you read the Word of God. God bless you. Colette Correa” 


That day I was in awe, as my eyes were opened to the work of God’s hands. I was truly encouraged that the Word of God we plant in people’s heart do bear fruit, as promised in Isaiah 55:10-11. God’s Word does not return to Him void, but it accomplishes what He desires and achieves the purpose for which He sends it. I might see fruit in my lifetime, if God allows, but if I do not, I will rest assured that God is indeed at work in people’s lives. “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7, NIV) 

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, Your thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are Your ways our ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than our ways and Your thoughts than our thoughts. Lord, open my spiritual eyes to understanding Your thoughts and Your ways as I trust the work of Your hands in the lives of people with whom I eagerly share the Good News. Amen.
Resources
Book: The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkerson Both books are great resources that will encourage you in understanding the way that God works in bringing about fruit in your life. In the words of the author himself: “In The Prayer of Jabez, I showed readers how to ask for life of abundant impact and significance for God. In The Secrets of the Vine, I want to show you how God works in your life to answer that prayer—and what you can do to cooperate with Him to make it happen.”
Book: The Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkerson Both books are great resources that will encourage you in understanding the way that God works in bringing about fruit in your life. In the words of the author himself: “In The Prayer of Jabez, I showed readers how to ask for life of abundant impact and significance for God. In The Secrets of the Vine, I want to show you how God works in your life to answer that prayer—and what you can do to cooperate with Him to make it happen.”
Question for Reflection

How has God shown you lately that He’s at work in your life or someone around you?

Comments
Colette Correa
March 14, 2022

Recently, I communicated with a relative who is usually very closed in listening to anything I ever have to share about the Bible or Jesus. In the past, he was always very resistant and our conversation would always end with bitter warnings that I should never mention the name of Jesus when I talk to him. To my surprise, last time we spoke, he was civil in our conversation and even mentioned that he on occasion listen to my weekly podcast—a very biblical podcast, dedicated to inspire and encourage people to experience a deeper intimacy with God and to be transformed by His word in their everyday life. I believe God is at work in his heart. I might not be seeing some immediate fruit but I know that God is currently softening his heart. This is encouraging me to keep praying that he will come to the full knowledge of who Jesus Christ is.