picturesfromheaven

"Stalk of Wheat"

I have a few hours before I go and have my "bum" gal bladder removed...I'm not particularly worried, it's a simple out patient surgery. However, I am thirsty, no drinking since midnight and the surgery isn't till after 4:00 p.m. So I decided I would distract myself with one more blog before I go to the hospital. This is a picture the Lord gave me some time ago, but considering the season I'm presently experiencing, one that has personal implications. Every area of my life right now is experiencing struggle, change or an unusual twist brought in by the Lord. If ever I've felt out of control of situations, its now. But I am more than willing to acknowledge there are probably still areas I haven't fully surrendered to the Lord. It's not that I'm a control freak. In fact, I don't want to control others at all. But I do like the feeling of being in control of myself...and perhaps it is myself that God wants on the altar today. I don't know. Once I'm done chatting with you, I'm going to have a little talk with the Lord. But my question to you is simply this, "What are you holding back on God?" Whatever it is, He wants it.

Picture…I saw grain of wheat; actually it was a single stalk of wheat. It was waving gently in the breeze all by itself. Then one grain from the stalk fell off and into the ground. The scene suddenly shifted and I saw a field of grain as far as the eye could see. I couldn’t see the end of it, but I could tell that the field was white, ready to harvest. I asked the Lord the importance of what I was seeing? He said “A grain of wheat must die, must be buried in the ground so that there can be a harvest. I am asking you to let go and let this die. If you would give this area of your life into my hands and die to self, then I will be able to provide a great and a bountiful harvest from it.”

Hear…the Lord say to you, “I know that you have been keeping this one area to yourself. You think, ‘It’s not a big deal; I can handle it.’ But I don’t want you to handle it. I don’t want you to withhold anything from me. Relinquish all into my hands. Sacrifice. Let it die. There are so many lives I can affect if you do.”

Consider: Maybe there is only one thing that is currently holding you back from becoming all that God wants you to be, the seed for a great and bountiful harvest. It could be so small that you think it’s unimportant. It’s so minor that you have basically ignored it, but God cannot and will not. Although small, it is like a huge rock blocking your way. Or it may small enough that you think you can handle it with a little self-control. But self-control hasn’t worked thus far and it is not going to in the future. You need to die to self. You need to let go of this idea that you can handle it alone. This is not going to be accomplished through your strength, wisdom or ability. Whatever you are hanging on to today, give it over to God. It might not even be a little thing. Maybe it is something is so big, so dear to your heart that you can’t bear to part with it. I want to ask you a question. It is the same question that Jesus asked Peter, “Do you truly love me more than these?" John 21:15(NIV) Don’t think that it is not a matter of love, for it is. Do you love God enough to die to self and yield up even your most priceless possession or secret? If you will surrender, totally, completely today, God’s promise is that He will make that sacrifice be the seed for a wonderful harvest, one that you will not be able to fully see or comprehend until the day you stand before His throne. Whether it is large or small, don’t hold back on God. Die to self. Give all to Him today.

Pray: “Lord, examine my heart. ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ Ps 139:23-24 (KJV) Not only search my heart for those wicked ways, but also search my heart to see if I’m holding back anything, great or small. Tell me if there is anything that is keeping me back. If there is anything, I want to give it to you right now. But I know that this can’t be one of those general, ‘if I have done anything’ kind of prayers. In order for me to truly release it I must know what it is and then deliberately give it to you in prayer. So I am going to sit here a while in your presence, meditate on your Word and listen to your voice. (PAUSE…wait on God.) Thank you for speaking to me about this. Thank you for showing me something that is holding me back from being all that I can be for your kingdom. I give you _____________________________ right now in Jesus Name, Amen.”

posted by pastorc @ 10:45 AM