Day 21

Day 21

Very few people would say that August is one of their favorite months of the year. But, for me, it is rewarding.

I planted most of the annual flowers in my garden from seed this year. The initial cost for flower seed is lower than if I had purchased plants from a garden center. I also knew that I would have a hard time getting the varieties that I wanted. So, I chose sweat equity over convenience and labored with love over my precious seedlings. I intentionally planted several zinnias varieties because of their variances in color, size, shape, and ability to last several days in a fresh cut arrangement. The six-pack of Gomphrena globosa (Glove amaranth) that I planted last year reseeded itself into a plethora of plants that had to be thinned out or relocated. My perennial Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) and Lambs Ear (Stachys byzantina) have reached maturity and multiplied in my garden.

So..why August? Only because the time of maturity for these flowers has arrived.

Annual flowers have always been my “specialty.” I am sure that is because of the near-instant gratification of maturity reached in the first year. I also value their summer-long bloom time. There is, however, a downside to planting annuals. When next spring comes, I will have to start the seeding process all over again.

As I get older, I am beginning to appreciate the value of perennial flowers. Although the initial cost is higher, fewer plants are needed in any given amount of space. The most significant benefit of all is that they will return year after year (provided their no loss due to pests, diseases, or climate issues.) As a general rule, perennials will take up to three years to reach maturity and desirable bloom capacity. And thus, is my ever-pressing issue... The key to success with perennial plants is patience.

“Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for, from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:12-13

A few weeks ago, that passage from the book of Daniel came to my remembrance.

My husband and I had reached a time when we were looking for our next step. We were in a place of comfort and safety. And although that seems to be a good thing, it can also be dangerous spiritually. I do not advocate jumping off the deep end and hoping you’ll land on God’s will for your life. God is a God of order and planning…If you don’t believe that then you need to re-read Genesis chapter one all the way through Revelation.

As a gardener, I know full well the research process of soil temperature, preparation, and seed sowing. I know the endless hours of weeding, watering, pest or disease control, and regular fertilizing it takes before I ever pick the first bouquet. None the less, I work on through the heat and humidity that is summer in Oklahoma. I know that in the end, the “pain” is time well spent. The same is true with our spiritual walk. Seek God, do your homework, follow peace in your spirit, not logic from your head.

Several times within the past year or two, my husband and I have met “middle-aged” people like ourselves. When we ask them how they’re doing the majority, have expressed the attitude that they are miserable. They hate their jobs, but “It pays the bills.” They feel a God-given desire deep within their spirit, but they will not act on it. They file their God-given dreams into a compartment labeled, “To do when we retire…in 10-15 years.”

When I hear that, my soul grieves with the thought, “How many people will suffer or be lost and go to hell while they wait for you to obey God?”

“He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:4

You see, my friends, the day we confessed Jesus Christ as the Lord of our lives and became “Christians,” our life is no longer our own. We were bought with an expensive price, the very blood of the Son of God and Maker of the universe. You are not a mistake. Our Savior has a plan for each of us. He desires that we live a life of purpose and legacy. It’s not about comfort or convenience; it’s about obedience.

But, make no mistake, there is also an enemy that wants to kill your God-given assignment. He’s a slick and dirty player. He will do anything and everything to stop you. He will sidetrack you with petty issues that rob you of your time or peace of mind. And if he can’t get you to give up, then he’ll push you with things to make you bitter and angry. Your focus will quickly come off God’s planning and timetable.

In Daniel chapter ten, we read that Daniel had been fasting and praying for three full weeks. I can only imagine how physically weak he must have felt. Still, Daniel waited. He was convinced that God had heard his prayer and that the answer would come. The reality is the answer was on its way the moment he prayed. But, what if he would have given up on day 20? Answer: All the prayer and fasting and suffering would have been for nothing. The answer would have never come. The enemy would have won.

How about you and me, my friends? Is there really such a thing as waiting too long for God’s promises? What if our answer is weeks away? What if it’s months or years from now? If the dream in our hearts is really from God, is it not worth waiting for? Do we honestly want annual spiritual blessings in place of perennial ones? God help us if that is the case.

No, I choose the perennials.

The best years of any of our lives are before us. God uses past experiences, both good and bad, to build us…if we will only let Him. Summer is winding down, and autumn is fast approaching. But that does not mean rest. It means preparing for the next season. Learn from the lessons summer has taught you. Prepare for the new thing God has for you. Seek God’s next step for you by digging into His Word like never before. Listen for His voice in the still, small whisper of your quiet time with Him each day. Don’t stop at day 20.

Rest assured that your answer is on the way…

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24