Seeds, Meditations, and Prayers

Our thoughts are seeds, meditations, and prayers.  In Genesis 21:14-19, Hagar’s thoughts left her hopeless. But in Mark 5:25-29, the bleeding woman’s thoughts were hopeful.  As I ponder these two women and the situations they faced, I grow more and more curious.  How do we move from hopeless to hopeful? 

 Each of us has around 60,000-80,000 thoughts per day. That’s 2500-3300 thoughts per hour. Isn’t that amazing?! No wonder Hagar wanders in the desert looks around and gives up. She couldn’t see hope until God opened her eyes.  Her thoughts controlled what she could see. What made Hagar, a woman who had a personal encounter with God in Genesis 16, lose hope?  In contrast, the bleeding woman went from hope to hope for 12 years. She saw healing in the next treatment or the next doctor until finally, she heard about Jesus! And she knew that all she had to do was touch the hem of His robe, and she would be healed. 

The seeds planted in our hearts come from our thoughts. What we continually think about becomes the meditation of our hearts. The meditations of our hearts turn into prayers. Seeds, meditations, and prayers…I ask myself where are my thoughts leading me?

What can we learn from the bleeding woman? 

1. Her desire for healing was so strong she never stopped seeking help.
2. She gave all of what she had in pursuit of wellness.
3. Even when things took a turn for the worse, she held on to hope for healing.

She has resilience. She has the ability to bounce back, look ahead, and see hope. 

When she learns about Jesus, her seeds of hope sprout into faith.  “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!” The meditation of her heart drives her through the crowd. She has to touch the hem of His garment. Immediately, twelve years of suffering come to an end. She touched the Source of all wellness.

This nameless woman reminds us of the importance of our thoughts. Her resilient mindset carried her to Jesus. Seeds, meditations, and prayers…bear fruit.  Seeds of hopelessness produce the fruit of despair. But seeds of hopefulness grow into faith. And faith in Jesus grows into wholeness.  Our lives may not ever be free of all trouble, but a mind fixed on Him will find peace, and cultivate the strength needed to endure until the end.

Let’s Reflect: What type of seeds are being cultivated in your thought life? What are you meditating on? What prayer is on repeat in your heart?

Let’s Pray:  Father, today we pray the words of the psalmist, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer.”  In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.