“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”
We have sometimes to stop waiting for someone else to do something when we could and should do it ourselves.
Time to rise up and store up. We have no need to be found lacking.
We are activated by pressing into the Lord and responding to His prompts to wake up.
No more passivity. Faith without works is dead. We are called to steward and govern more.
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Abraham and Moses negotiated with God for Nations and people and we too can wrestle with Him in the private place of our prayer. Interceding for many in need in our demands.
God looks to restore the years the locusts have stolen.
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.”
He encourages our perseverance. His desire is to restore what is significant to us.
Changes begin internally before they manifest externally. Our battle is not for us alone but for all. He keeps His promises.
““You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.”
It is the enemy who clothes us in shame and God lifts that off us to clothe us in satisfaction.
His desire is not for us to put up with insufficiency. Or to be just managing to survive. It is for success and abundance. For heaven on earth for all.
For us to be fruitful and reaping abundant harvests and reflecting God on earth where we shine.
What God has begun He will finish. Spirits of shame and discouragement from the enemy must be brushed off. Not allowed to sabotage our soul. He restores our soul.
“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
The Holy Spirit brings us back to our true identity and residence of us in Him and He in us. Our burden lifted and ourselves strengthened for this season.
“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”
The illustration shows the ant storing and stewarding his provision to provide in time of lack. Emanating light to push back the darkness.
Whilst the sluggardly is unprepared.
Six Scriptures that come to mind:
“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:6-11 ESV
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14, 17 ESV
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25 ESV
““You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” Joel 2:26 ESV
“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3 ESV
“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”Ephesians 3:16 ESV
The song Remember. Lauren Daigle
Lessisgreater 