Sweeter Than Honey: Praying for the Harvest

What if we spent a few quiet moments with God each morning? What if we were intentional about making time for it? And what if we committed to doing that all year long, only to find that by the end of the year, we had read the entirety of God's Word—His Love Letter to us? 

​How many times have you, on January 1, resolved to read the Bible from cover to cover in a year? I’ve made that commitment more times than I can count, and I’ve failed more times than I’d like to admit. But a few years ago, I tried something different—I used a one-year, chronological order of book authorship, Bible Reading Itinerary. Did you know that Genesis wasn’t the first book of the Bible written? While these plans can vary, since it's impossible to pinpoint exact dates for some books, the plan I used began with the book of Job. Let me introduce you to Sweeter Than Honey, a book patterned after that Bible Reading Itinerary.

​Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey ​that leads the reader
​through God's Word ​in chronological order of book authorship.

AVAILABLE AT AMAZON [HARDCOVER | PAPERBACK | KINDLE | AUDIOBOOK]

On Tuesdays, through the end of the year, I’d love for you to join me as we travel through parts of Sweeter Than Honey​ together! I also encourage you to join the private Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group, where you can share your thoughts and connect with like-minded, Christian friends.

Matthew 8-10: Praying for the Harvest

This passage in the Gospel of Matthew is so exciting! When I read it, I feel like I am, right there, walking with Jesus during His earthly ministry. We follow Him as He heals a leper and the centurion’s servant. He heals Peter’s mother-in-law, and Matthew 8:16-17 tells us, “That evening they brought to Him many who were oppressed by demons, and He cast out the spirits with a Word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the Prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.’”

We also see Jesus calm the storm on the sea. “And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him’” (Matthew 8:27)? He casts demons out of two wild men. The demons went into a herd of pigs, and those pigs ran off a cliff into the sea and drowned. He heals a paralytic and the woman with a discharge of blood for 12 years. He even raises a young girl to life.

Finally, Jesus heals two blind men and casts out demons from a mute man enabling him to speak. “And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, ‘Never was anything like this seen in Israel’” (Matthew 9:33).

However, healing the sick, calming the storm, casting out demons, raising from the dead—while all of this is great, it is not Jesus’ primary mission. Verses 35-38 of chapter 9 tell us His primary focus, and this also should be our primary mission and focus during our earthly ministry. 

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” (Matthew 9:35-38)

• ​Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages.
• He didn’t just hunker down in His comfort zone like we so like to do. He proclaimed the Gospel, just as we should be doing every day in every place that we go.
• He saw the crowds and had compassion for them. How’s your compassion level these days? Do you feel compassion for the lost souls around you—the sheep without a Shepherd?
• Then Jesus tells His disciples to pray earnestly for laborers to go into the plentiful harvest.

Today, let’s pray that God would open our eyes to the plentiful harvest around us.

How can we develop a heart of compassion like Jesus for the "harassed and helpless" around us, and what might it look like for us to step out of our comfort zones and labor in the harvest He has called us to?

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, it brings inspiration and insight that guides my day. Let's treat His Word as the Love Letter it truly is, finding peace in chaos and strength in our weaknesses.

​Even on our busiest days, we can carve out a few minutes to focus on what truly matters. Whether it's early in the morning when the house is quiet or late at night after everyone else is asleep, we can make time for God’s Word.

Let's be intentional, letting His truths inspire us to live out our faith daily, in a way that draws others to the peace and joy we've found in Him.

Remember, God sees you, knows you by name, and cares about every detail of your life. Let's dive into His Love Letter, together!

​My top tip for successful Bible study? Be intentional with a plan. Without one, it's unlikely to happen. That's why I created Sweeter Than Honey—to give busy women like us a manageable, attainable plan to read through the Bible in a year.

Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey inspired by Psalm 119:103: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” This book is designed to help you find peace amid chaos and strength in your weakest moments, all while encouraging you in your daily walk with God. Each day’s reading itinerary and devotion will guide you through God’s Word, in chronological order of book authorship, and by year's end you will have read through the entire Bible!

“You’ll find encouragement on every page of this book—encouragement to seek God above all else. The strong, spiritual emphasis will challenge you to turn to God for daily direction and experience His presence in a whole new and intentional way. Sweeter Than Honey will become more to you than just another daily devotional, it will become a keepsake as you record prayers and participate in thought-provoking, practical exercises that touch every aspect of your life and draw you closer to our Creator.” —from the Prologue

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What People Are Saying About Sweeter Than Honey

"Sweeter Than Honey is a wonderful journey through the Bible. The devotional thoughts are evangelistic, encouraging, and edifying. The reading plan is more than manageable with each day’s devotion helping to focus the reader on wonderful truths found therein. I believe that you will benefit from this journey, whether you are reading the Bible through for the thirtieth time or for the very first! Dive in and glean Biblical truths this year that are indeed Sweeter Than Honey!" —Amanda Baker, Missionary to England

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