prayer waters God’s word

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

I was praying this morning for many people—my family, our congregation, all of you, and a great many individuals that are presently going through difficult times, either physically or financially. While I was praying, suddenly an image came to mind. The image was this: last fall when I was tearing out the garden, I went into different patches of flowers and cut off the flower heads. I put them in a large container for them to dry out over the coming months. This winter I put these dried flower heads on a cookie sheet to dry out further. A few weeks later I took the seeds out of one flower head and planted them. I planted them in a little flower container I had filled with vermiculite and peat moss. I wasn’t really trying to grow them as much as I wanted to test the seeds to make sure they would germinate so that I could plant the rest next spring. I watered the seeds in that container and in about ten days they germinated and began to grow. The seeds were good and I knew they would produce in my garden next year. This was the image I suddenly saw while I was praying.

The Lord immediately began to speak to me about all the seeds Renee and I had planted in obedience to His Word over the past 32 years together. We have never not tithed ten percent of our income. We have always given offerings. We have planted the seed of God’s Word in people’s lives. We have done many things for people. These are all “seeds” according to God’s word. If it weren’t for the Lord and His grace, we would never have had that seed or strength of spirit to obey him to begin with. 2 Cor. 9:10-11 says, “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

As the Lord was speaking to me about all this, He reminded me of that cookie sheet with all those dead flower heads containing the seeds. He said, “They are just sitting there and that’s all they will do until you plant them. Planting them is still not enough. You had to water them. If you hadn’t, they would not have germinated and grown.” He continued, “You’ve planted much seed in your life as have the people you are praying for. Pray for the rain of Heaven upon their seed so that it can sprout and bring forth fruit.” That was such a powerful image to me because I could so easily see it in terms of gardening.

This is how you gave your life to Jesus. Someone got the seed of God’s Word—the gospel of Jesus Christ to you. As someone you know began to pray over God’s word within you, it took root in your heart and eventually sprang forth. 1 Peter 1:23 says, “For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, incorruptible seed of God’s Word.”

The Bible says God’s Word is incorruptible seed meaning seed that will grow. Many people have it “planted” in their heart, but they need someone to water it through prayer.

God gives us seed—the Word of God, the tithe, offerings, good works, and more. He instructs us to plant in different ways as part of His plan in this earth. The people I know have done that. But rain—the watering of seed—is critical for germination and growth. The rain God is talking about is prayer. He was saying, “Pray over those seeds you’ve planted in obedience to me.”

I’ll end with these verses from Isaiah. They paint the picture of prayer resulting in rain upon seed. Today I have begun to pray over all the seed Renee and I and all of you have planted. I will remember that seed first germinates, then sprouts, then grows over months, and then begins to bring forth fruit. That means I need to be consistent in “watering” by continuing to pray as a prayer assignment for a season of months and months. We will then see a bountiful harvest! I am excited and as you read the verses from Isaiah and catch the vision!

Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT) “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt