The Harvest of Prayers

Jean Francois-Millet, The Angelus, 1857-1859, Louvre, Paris, France.

What is the harvest of our prayers?

Prayers, after all, are seeds. Seeds already planted in the heart of God, who hears all our prayers. And, according to Holy Scripture, answers all our prayers (perhaps not always as we hoped).

So, prayers are a type of seed. Planted seeds, when well-tended and after a time, produce a harvest. The same is true of prayer.

Seed-planting requires hope of a future harvest, confidence that there will be a harvest—if all goes well— and patience to see a harvest that is not, at that moment, manifest or visible to us.

The same is true of prayers. We pray in hope, confidence, and patience. Well, perhaps most of the time. And, most of the time, there is one other thing that can make prayer-seeds even more effective.

Consciousness.

How many times have I—you—prayed on the fly? Heading out the door to school or work? Or in those last, lucid moments before we fall into a sleep? It’s not that God doesn’t hear prayers uttered in haste. Or in immediate need. God hears all prayers.

But what happens when a farmer sows seeds unconsciously? Or in a hurry? Some seeds may fall on rocky ground. Some may miss the field entirely. Jesus talked about that in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15). In this parable, a sower scatters seeds, with some falling on the path, some on rocky ground, some seeds among thorns, and some seeds landing in good soil. Jesus used this parable to explain how different people receive the "word of the kingdom".

A successful farmer needs to be careful where they plant seeds. And when they plant seeds (not in January). In all seed planting—especially our prayers—it’s important that we focus on what we’re doing. The task at hand. Be purposeful and present in the moment.

Why?

Because any seed-planter is anticipating and hoping for a good harvest. Particularly true in prayer-seeds. Most prayer-seeds are directed towards some need, or some person. Intercession for a future good result. Intercession for a heart that is near and dear to us. Intercession for a good report in some current medical situation.

Not all fields bear the same. Not all seeds take root. But there is another law of nature about planting seed. Good seed in good soil gives good fruit.

And, just like the farmer, all of us who sow prayer seeds should offer those prayers in hope, confidence, and patience. If we plant our prayers consciously, purposefully, intentionally—in good soil—a harvest will come.