By Andrew Williams
Series: The Year of the Prophet- Month 5: The Prophet’s Mandate: To Root Out and To Plant
Week 21: Planting for the Future (Sustainability)
Anchor Scripture: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (NKJV)
The Teaching
The final stage of the planting mandate is Nurturing. Once the soil has been cultivated (Day 145), the seed has been sown (Day 144), and the tender sprouts are being guarded (Day 146), the work of the Prophetic Gardener begins. This is the daily, consistent “watering” of what God is doing.
Watering represents the continuous supply of the Word and the Spirit. A prophetic word is not a “one-and-done” event. To “nurture” a move of God means you keep speaking into it. You keep reminding the people of the vision. You keep “pouring” the water of encouragement over the roots of their destiny. Just as a physical garden will wither if it is only watered once a month, a spiritual vision will wither if it is not nurtured through constant prophetic “irrigation.”
The Prophet-Gardener is a person of Service. Notice Paul’s humility: “Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters.” The Gardener understands that they are not the “Source” of the life—only God gives the increase. But the Gardener also knows that without the “watering” of the Word, the increase is hindered. To be a nurturer is to be content with being the “supply line” for someone else’s growth.
Prophetic Insight
Prophetic nurturing is the antidote to “Prophetic Fatigue.” Many people receive a great word from God, but they get discouraged when the fulfillment takes time. They start to “wither” in their hope. The Prophet is sent to water the hope. You walk alongside the “planting” and you speak the refreshing rain of the Spirit. You say, “Remember what God said. Look how much you’ve grown. Don’t stop now; the water is coming.” If you find yourself constantly “reminding” people of who they are and what God has promised, you are nurturing the harvest. You are ensuring that the plant has the “moisture” it needs to survive the heat of the day.
The Activation
Identify a “Planting of the Lord” that looks like it is starting to “wilt”—perhaps a friend who has lost their fire, or a project that has stalled. Today, be the “Prophetic Water-Carrier.” Reach out to them with a word of refreshing. Don’t give them “new” revelation; just “water” the old one. Say, “I’m reminding you of what God spoke. I see the life still in you. Keep going.”
Daily Prayer: Lord God, I thank You that You are the Lord of the Increase. I ask for the grace to be a faithful waterer in Your garden. Forgive me for wanting to be the ‘Source’ instead of the ‘Supply.’ Help me to nurture the visions and the people You have planted. Give me ‘words of rain’ to refresh the weary and ‘words of life’ to sustain the growing. I yield to the work of the gardener today. Amen.
