Habakkuk 3:17-19
‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 
DAILY READING  Mark 8:1-21; 2 Samuel 19; Daniel 12

The Chinese bamboo tree is a very interesting tree. When planted, it stays about 4 years in the ground without any sign of growth. In the first year there is no sign that anything is planted there. In the second year, still no sign of growth above the soil. In the third and fourth year, still nothing happening. And then finally in the fifth year, behold, a miracle! The tree suddenly breaks out to the surface and within just six weeks it grows up to 80 feet, which is about the height of a 5 story building. Amazing!

The Chinese bamboo tree teaches us that, apart from the natural way trees grow, there can be extraordinary growth. This kind of extraordinary growth is similar to what happens spiritually when we give God praise.  

Beyond the normal rate of harvest, there can be supernatural harvest. And the mystery of praise is the sickle with which we reap this supernatural harvest. 

 Psalms 67: 5 – 6 says ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.’

When we give God quality praise, the earth yields her increase. In other words, when we praise God, power is released that enforces the earth to yield whatever is due to us.  As we praise, all our benefits the earth is holding back is suddenly delivered into our hands. And like the Chinese bamboo tree, suddenly you experience extraordinary surpassing growth within a short period. 

God is fearful in praises.  When we praise God,  He does the miraculous. He does exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. 

Often times when people sow seed and don’t reap their harvest, it is because the sickle of praise is missing.  Even when seeds are sown naturally in the ground sometimes weather conditions or pests can cause a farmer not to receive his expected harvest. In the same way there are spiritual forces that try to resist your harvest. Proverbs 14:23 lets us know that all labor in God’s  kingdom entitles us to returns. Whenever you have sown, you are entitled to reap.  However there are evil forces that try to tamper with the sowing and reaping process. And one of the ways the enemy attacks a believer’s harvest is through depression. Through pointing out the things that have not been working in your life, the enemy tries to depress you. The aim of the depression is to cause you to lose God’s Presence, because God only dwells in a joyful atmosphere. And the enemy cannot oppress you until he first depresses you.  Therefore resist every attempt of the enemy to depress you. Rather than letting the enemy point out your unachieved goals or what has not worked, begin to count your blessings and thank God for all He has done. .

Habakkuk 3:17-19 says ‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.’ 

When you praise God despite your situation, God causes you to ride upon your high places. Despite the low points of the year, praise God for the great and mighty things you have seen,  and if you sincerely count, there has been many of them. Praise is a multiplier. When Jesus thanked God for the 5 loaves and 2 fishes, they miraculously multiplied. Praise brings wholeness, when the one leper came back to thank Jesus for his healing he was made whole. 

So like that one leper, begin to thank God and praise Him for all He has done for you this year. As you do so the power in praise will cause the earth to yield her increase to you; the power in praise will forcefully dislodge the cankerworms that had hitherto been eating up your harvest. What you do not want you do not watch. Therefore, engage praise for a forceful turnaround of your situation. When you praise God, He inhabits your praises. And when you are surrounded by God’s Presence, every devil steers clear.  

No matter what you may have seen so far, there is still so much more God planned for you this year. In this last month, you need the sickle of praise to bring in all your pending harvest. And as you praise God, get ready for exceeding surpassing growth. Like the bamboo tree overnight you are going to erupt to unexpected heights. God will amaze you with His goodness, such that everyone will know that indeed you are serving the living God. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to stop worrying about things yet undone in my life this year, grant me rather the grace to praise You, so that the earth will yield her increase, even as I experience your exceeding abundant blessings in Jesus Name. 

QUOTE 

You will never need more than God to experience the impossible in life. WORDBITE 222. 

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE]