LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Sunday 12th October 2025
START PLANTING
Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:18-29
And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Genesis 9:20
After God assured Noahthatf that the seed time and harvest would not cease, Noah stepped out to work. He responded to God’s charge to Him to be fruitful. His actions tell us of His preparedness to see God’s declaration to Him manifested. The scriptures highlight two things he did:
1. Noah began to be a farmer. He knew that fruitfulness requires work. I like how the passage used the word, ‘began’. It simply means ‘he started.’ For the period that he was in the ark, he had to keep safe and wait. After God brought him out, he couldn’t continue to just keep safe and wait.
He had to resume his life and to do that, he had to start from somewhere; doing something. It is time to resume your life also. It is time to resume your schedule. It is time to resume going to church in person, and the other activities you have shelved in the wake of the pandemic.
If you believe God has called you to be fruitful, BEGIN the process. Noah Began! Don’t procrastinate. Time continually elapses; it never pauses for any person to get something done. Don’t wait for someone to help you. Begin by asking the Lord to lead you.
2. He planted a vineyard. Noah knew that fruitfulness requires planting or investing. He therefore planted something that produces fruit. We must not just put in effort anywhere with no clear end in mind. There must be something specific we begin with and work towards.
For Noah, it was a vineyard. Yours could be a burden the Lord laid on your heart or a dream that excites you – possibly a new business idea, a book you’d like to write, or a course you wish to pursue. Whatever it is, you must have a clear vision of what you want to build.
Everything significant has been done one step at a time and one day at a time. The rule applies in nature, to how we grow from little children to mature adults or how ants build towering anthills from grains of sand. One day at a time, you will build.
If you’ve lost so much, it is time to get back to life. Begin to break the fallow ground. Step out and start working. You will build great things.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, your Spirit leads and inspires me. Today, I step out to do what you have called me to do. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*
