Author's Note: Every day on the YWAP Fast Jan. 6-26, 2020 we’ll write about our experience as we respond to what God plants on our hearts during our extended time with Him.. Eventually the story will be chronicled into a book. “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” Matthew 6:33 AMP
RESULTS YOU WILL NEVER SEE
Being a teacher is one of the most important jobs on the planet. Like it or not, everyone will be a teacher at some point in our lives. Folks learn by watching what we do, what we say and how we react under pressure. Sometimes our mistakes give license to other folks; they use our behavior as an excuse to act the same way. We may never see the results of our bad behavior or our bad attitudes, but they've left an imprint on somebody.
God has plans for our lives and it's our responsibility to search out and implement those plans. If we fail to do our part in His plan, it's no biggie, He just uses one of the other billions of folks hanging around, but we lose out on being involved in God's already ordained results. Being a teacher in a classroom, a youth leader or a mentor gives us the opportunity to make a positive (or negative) impact on many lives. The impact we make is often unknown. Time passes quickly and with it passes the many young lives under our influence. When forming a relationship with a young person, it's important to be transparent. You cannot be perfect in your behavior as a role model, but you can be real. Being known as someone who admits mistakes is better than being a hypocrite who hides mistakes.
Standing by street corner memorials where someone died makes one wonder what would've happened if they'd lived. Those are results we'll never know. Unborn children who die through abortion leave a void of unknown results. What impact on the world would they have imprinted if they'd been allowed to live? Marriages are dissolved too quickly for selfish reasons, what would've been the results if a little resiliency had been added to the separation? People and situations are like tides in the ocean - the ebb and flow of opportunities is constant.
The Bible says "God's Word is a lamp unto our feet" (Psalm 119:105) We can influence the results by taking good care of the people placed in our care, whether it's for a minute, hour or years. Or to say it a little shorter, "Take care of the people at our feet." The Bible speaks of people sitting at the feet of Jesus as He teaches them. There's also a great story about a lady who, at the feet of Jesus, broke open an alabaster box of expensive ointment and poured it on the feet of Jesus. “Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” John 12:3 (HCSB) Imagine each person in front of you as worthy of receiving the same treatment as Mary gave Jesus. Focus on the results of the moment, let God take care of future results.
DAY FIFTEEN WORD
Ephesians 5:8-10 (HCSB)
“For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light--
for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth--
discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.”
John 4:38 (AMP)
“I sent you to reap [a crop] for which you have not worked.
Others have worked and you have been privileged to reap the results of their work.”
Hebrews 13:6-8 (CJB)
“Therefore, we say with confidence,
“Adonai is my helper; I will not be afraid --
what can a human being do to me?”
Remember your leaders,
those who spoke God’s message to you.
Reflect on the results of their way of life,
and imitate their trust —
Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
1 Corinthians 12:6 (TPT)
“The same God distributes different kinds of miracles
that accomplish different results
through each believer’s gift and ministry
as he energizes and activates them.”
DAY FIFTEEN PRAYER
Thank you God for allowing me to enjoy the results and the fruit that I didn't do anything to deserve. You've allowed me to be blessed by the works of the hands of others. Help me to focus on the results that you want me to take care of right in front of me. May the works of my hands accomplished for your glory be used freely by others long after I'm gone from this world. Amen.
DAY FIFTEEN DEEP THOUGHTS
Once upon a season, a man planted seeds on a hillside. He planted seeds of fruit and vegetables in one year and they kept growing for many years. The man built a house and raised a family who lived in the house for many years eating from the food that grew on the hillside. The whole family would pitch in by helping remove the weeds and take care of the new young plants that sprouted in place of old and dying plants.
The house was sold to many different families over the years. One day a little boy asked his Father, "Daddy, who planted the very first vegetables and fruits? The man smiled at his little boy, scooped him up and tossed him high in the air. The boy howled in joy as he landed in his Daddy's arms and nestled into a great big hug. The big man looked into his son's eyes and said, "They called the man who was the first planter, Mr. Freely. He liked to plant beyond what he needed so he could give the abundance to other people. He was a visionary who started planting gardens and made sure he finished the work. The most important thing Mr. Freely did was to make sure that his gardens were fertilized by consistency and continuance so the results would keep repeating themselves."
The boy listened very intently to his Dad's explanation. After a few moments of silence he asked his dad another question, "How did he get the name Mr. Freely?" The Dad smiled again and said, "Nobody really knows for sure how he got that name, but everyone agrees that's what he should be called. The man was always freely giving things to other people. All his gardens were planted with the idea that he would have more than enough for his own family and the rest he could freely give away. Because of what Mr. Freely started, we continue to freely give what we have freely received. That's the results of a life freely lived."
God has plans for our lives and it's our responsibility to search out and implement those plans. If we fail to do our part in His plan, it's no biggie, He just uses one of the other billions of folks hanging around, but we lose out on being involved in God's already ordained results. Being a teacher in a classroom, a youth leader or a mentor gives us the opportunity to make a positive (or negative) impact on many lives. The impact we make is often unknown. Time passes quickly and with it passes the many young lives under our influence. When forming a relationship with a young person, it's important to be transparent. You cannot be perfect in your behavior as a role model, but you can be real. Being known as someone who admits mistakes is better than being a hypocrite who hides mistakes.
Standing by street corner memorials where someone died makes one wonder what would've happened if they'd lived. Those are results we'll never know. Unborn children who die through abortion leave a void of unknown results. What impact on the world would they have imprinted if they'd been allowed to live? Marriages are dissolved too quickly for selfish reasons, what would've been the results if a little resiliency had been added to the separation? People and situations are like tides in the ocean - the ebb and flow of opportunities is constant.
The Bible says "God's Word is a lamp unto our feet" (Psalm 119:105) We can influence the results by taking good care of the people placed in our care, whether it's for a minute, hour or years. Or to say it a little shorter, "Take care of the people at our feet." The Bible speaks of people sitting at the feet of Jesus as He teaches them. There's also a great story about a lady who, at the feet of Jesus, broke open an alabaster box of expensive ointment and poured it on the feet of Jesus. “Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” John 12:3 (HCSB) Imagine each person in front of you as worthy of receiving the same treatment as Mary gave Jesus. Focus on the results of the moment, let God take care of future results.
DAY FIFTEEN WORD
Ephesians 5:8-10 (HCSB)
“For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light--
for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth--
discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.”
John 4:38 (AMP)
“I sent you to reap [a crop] for which you have not worked.
Others have worked and you have been privileged to reap the results of their work.”
Hebrews 13:6-8 (CJB)
“Therefore, we say with confidence,
“Adonai is my helper; I will not be afraid --
what can a human being do to me?”
Remember your leaders,
those who spoke God’s message to you.
Reflect on the results of their way of life,
and imitate their trust —
Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
1 Corinthians 12:6 (TPT)
“The same God distributes different kinds of miracles
that accomplish different results
through each believer’s gift and ministry
as he energizes and activates them.”
DAY FIFTEEN PRAYER
Thank you God for allowing me to enjoy the results and the fruit that I didn't do anything to deserve. You've allowed me to be blessed by the works of the hands of others. Help me to focus on the results that you want me to take care of right in front of me. May the works of my hands accomplished for your glory be used freely by others long after I'm gone from this world. Amen.
DAY FIFTEEN DEEP THOUGHTS
Once upon a season, a man planted seeds on a hillside. He planted seeds of fruit and vegetables in one year and they kept growing for many years. The man built a house and raised a family who lived in the house for many years eating from the food that grew on the hillside. The whole family would pitch in by helping remove the weeds and take care of the new young plants that sprouted in place of old and dying plants.
The house was sold to many different families over the years. One day a little boy asked his Father, "Daddy, who planted the very first vegetables and fruits? The man smiled at his little boy, scooped him up and tossed him high in the air. The boy howled in joy as he landed in his Daddy's arms and nestled into a great big hug. The big man looked into his son's eyes and said, "They called the man who was the first planter, Mr. Freely. He liked to plant beyond what he needed so he could give the abundance to other people. He was a visionary who started planting gardens and made sure he finished the work. The most important thing Mr. Freely did was to make sure that his gardens were fertilized by consistency and continuance so the results would keep repeating themselves."
The boy listened very intently to his Dad's explanation. After a few moments of silence he asked his dad another question, "How did he get the name Mr. Freely?" The Dad smiled again and said, "Nobody really knows for sure how he got that name, but everyone agrees that's what he should be called. The man was always freely giving things to other people. All his gardens were planted with the idea that he would have more than enough for his own family and the rest he could freely give away. Because of what Mr. Freely started, we continue to freely give what we have freely received. That's the results of a life freely lived."
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