“I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was causing the growth.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6 AMP
Most of the time when I read these verses, I think about being the one who plants or waters in someone else’s life. But recently, God reminded me of a time when I was on the other side — the one receiving the water.
The Seed My Parents Planted
Before I recall ever going to church, I recall having a set of Children’s Bible Stories that our parents bought for us. It was before I knew how to read, but I loved looking at the pictures. I remember seeing a beautiful depiction of Jacob’s Ladder and…believing. In our home growing up, my parents also had a big family Bible displayed in the living room. I didn’t read it as a child, but I saw it every day. That simple presence planted a seed in my heart — God’s Word was important and worth keeping near. My parents had planted a seed.
A Stranger Waters the Seed
A few years later, I recall a man carrying a Bible stopping briefly to tell us children to be sure to read our Bible. I could read by then, but until that point, I had never considered actually reading the Bible. Our family Bible was huge, so it never occurred to me that reading the whole thing was something that should be attempted. Until that day. That man watered the seed that my parents had planted.
Year After Year, the Goal Lingered
When I became an adult, I never forgot my goal of reading the entire Bible, but I put it off because I had no real plan for accomplishing it. Until I began attending a church that provided copies of Our Daily Bread. Our Daily Bread had a ‘Read the Bible in a Year’ reading plan. Still, I put it off because it was not the beginning of the year.
Failed Attempts and Hard Lessons
It wasn’t my first attempt to read the Bible from start to finish. In the past, I had started in Genesis with the King James Version and tried to power through to Revelation — but I always got stuck. Reading the entire Old Testament first was difficult, and at times even overwhelming, especially when His people were faced with God’s wrath and judgments for disobedience.
The language of the King James Version made it even harder to stay motivated. I would stall out somewhere in the Old Testament and feel discouraged, wondering if my childhood goal was just too big.
God’s Perfect Timing
Then one year, something changed. On January 1st, the Holy Spirit brought my childhood goal back to mind. This time, I didn’t just remember it — I was ready. And God had already provided exactly what I needed: Our Daily Bread’s ‘Read the Bible in a Year’ plan. The plan paired one Old Testament passage with one New Testament passage each day. That balance between the history and law of the Old Testament and the hope and fulfillment of the New Testament kept me engaged and encouraged.
This time, I also switched to the Amplified Bible. Its clear explanations and expanded wording helped me truly understand and stay connected to what I was reading.
The seed had been planted in my childhood home, watered by a stranger’s encouragement, and now, years later, God brought me to the perfect place and the perfect time for it to grow.
A Year That Changed Me
With the right plan, the right translation, and God’s perfect timing, I finally read the entire Bible from cover to cover. Not out of obligation, but with an eagerness I can only explain as God-given.
I expected reading the Bible to be difficult, but it was quite the contrary. The knowledge that I gained was instantaneous. And when I finished, I wasn’t the same. God’s Word had shaped me, corrected me, encouraged me, and drawn me closer to Him in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I always remember the Scriptures right when I need to. The Holy Spirit brought the increase. It had taken decades from planting to watering to full bloom — but God had been in control every step of the way.
Inner Beauty Reflection
The things we do for or say to others has the potential to become seeds we plant or the seeds we water in the lives of others. God often places us in the right place at the right time — either to plant, to water, or to grow. As children of God, we must be careful to do so and believe that the Holy Spirit will bring the increase.
Maybe you’re in a planting season. Maybe you’re watering. Or maybe you’re still holding onto a seed that God planted years ago, waiting for the right time to grow. Being open to His timing keeps our hearts soft and ready for His work. Spiritual beauty shines brightest when we are both teachable and willing to encourage others.
Trust His timing — He knows exactly when your “January 1st” moment will come.
Your Turn
- Has someone ever spoken a simple word of encouragement that stayed with you for years?
- Is there a spiritual goal you’ve been carrying in your heart for a long time?
- Could now be your “January 1st” moment?
A Prayer for Patience and Readiness
Lord, thank You for planting seeds in our lives, for sending people to water them, and for knowing the perfect time to bring the increase. Help me be ready when You say, “Now is the time.” And help me trust You when the waiting feels long. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FAQs
Q: How do I start reading the Bible in a year?
A: Choose a plan that works for your schedule, like Our Daily Bread’s Read the Bible in a Year, and ask God to help you stay committed.
Q: What is a divine appointment?
A: A divine appointment is a moment orchestrated by God where you are in the right place at the right time for His purposes — to serve or be served.
Any other questions? Be sure to drop them in the comments below.
Until next time, stay beautiful… 💖
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