Isaiah 37:30

This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:

This year you will eat what grows by itself,

    and the second year what springs from that.

But in the third year sow and reap,

    plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

When our friends from 24-7 visited us on 17 October, one of them said they felt God wanted to give us this verse. 

At our retreat day on 20 October 2018 we prayed about what God is saying to us through it. We prayed about it in pairs and shared what we got. This is a summary:

• God is encouraging us by setting our expectations about how much work we need to do. Something wonderful is springing up for this House of Prayer that is not the result of us preparing the land, doing lots of digging and working of the soil. 

• The initial burst of life that springs up to birth the house of prayer will produce it's own fruit in the next growing season - again it won't be down to us doing lots of background work. We just need to focus on the praying.

• The 24-7 vision is for prayer, mission and justice. There is an expectation that our prayers will move us into action. This word is emphasising the importance of the prayer first. The time will come for organising activities beyond that (i.e. sowing, reaping and planting). 

• In the face of the Assyrian threat, Hezekiah had chosen to trust in God and seek him rather than find natural ways out. He was a good king, and strengthened the people - the House of Prayer will be a strength to us and others in the city.

• Hezekiah was living under the threat of invasion by the Assyrians. We may look at our country today and feel that it is being overcome by evil, but no, wait! Don't give up. Look to God to bring a harvest. 

• Remember what Jill Weber said on Wed 17 October - persevere for the first 2 years no matter what happens!