Have you ever read a scripture so many times you become numb to it?

My friend, Joni Stepp, wrote about this in her Instagram post on Monday.  It’s so easy to become numb to words you’ve heard all your life–yes, even the Words of our God. The best way to combat this? Pray for fresh eyes every time you open the Bible. Pray for God’s Truth to jump out at you–NOT just a version truth you want to fit your preconceived ideas and opinions.

But HIS Truth.

His way.

His voice. That it may penetrate to your heart, and open your eyes to His call.

(FYI: you may not learn something “new,” but I pray you allow God to mold you into the warrior He needs with every word from Him you read.)

I prayed for fresh eyes Wednesday morning as I was reading a familiar text. John 4. Here’s what I wrote down after reading this:

³⁴ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. ³⁵ Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. ³⁶ Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. ³⁷ For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ ³⁸ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

“Reaping what we have not sown. The labor of others (Old Testament prophets & faithful families, John the baptist, etc.) was the foundation that prepared the harvest for the disciples; the foundation that prepared the way for Christ.

Application for me: God is working through His people. Every encounter someone has with the TRUTH brings them closer to the Harvest. My job may be to plant the seed, or water the ground, and my job may be when it’s time to pick the harvest. EVERYONE’S life following Jesus has a purpose–to bring more people to Him. Yes, God provides the increase (1 Corinthians 3). His hand is always at work–even when we cannot see. And we must continue to be that Light so that we can all (reapers and sowers) rejoice together!”

All of this means this: no job is too small in the Kingdom. No smile, kind word, or act of service goes unnoticed by our God. To those who are outside of Christ, every encounter they have with someone in the fold brings them closer to the Truth. So stay the course dear friend. Your efforts are not in vain and just because you’re not seeing the fruit of your labor for Him, doesn’t mean you aren’t planting or watering!

Be encouraged! God is working. 🙂