The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

WHEN A farmer plants a seed, he puts it in good soil, waters it and repeats the same process daily.

After watering the plant everyday and making sure the surrounding environment is conducive to proper growth, the farmer will see the manifestation of his efforts when the stem finally shoots out of the ground.

All the while, the farmer could not see the growth of the seed taking place in the ground. But he knew once he prepared the soil, watered it, eventually he would see a sprout.

Like the farmer a Christian should see the word of God as a seed that must be sowed in their hearts. Proverbs 18:21 states: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Fr Chester Burton said if Christians want good things to happen in their life the word of God must be planted in their hearts. They must dwell on the word, believe it, and watch their words come to fruition.

“Like the scripture says death and life are in the power of the tongue and a lot of Christians do not realise that. When you speak certain things about people it is like predestination or a self fulling prophecy. Because this is so true parents should not speak against their children or say things like you will never amount to nothing or you would never be anything in life because this can definitely come to pass,” he said.

Fr Burton told Tribune Religion speaking the word of God and sewing them as seeds is a basic principle of Christianity that is often forsaken or taken for granted by many Christians.

“People just do not read the bible anymore so they do not know what the bible has to say about certain areas and aspects of life. They have become so carefree and forget to use the word of God the way it is supposed to be used,” he said.

Making daily confessions is something Tasha Burrows said she does. As a born again Christian she said whenever she is experiencing a rough point in her life she constantly renews her mind in that area and speak out loud what the scripture says.

“That is my investment. What do you think we have the bible for? It is our guide to life. Whenever anything goes wrong I look for scriptures that speak to that specific area. I repeat them every morning when I wake, I repeat them to myself when I am at work and I constantly sew that seed,” she said.

For instance, Ms Burrows said if at any point she is feeling ill she would speak the scripture that says “by his stripes I am healed” constantly. Once she does that she is made whole, she said.

“Through the pain I repeat ‘By his stripes I am healed’. When I get a bad report I say ‘by his stripes I am healed’, and I believe what the scripture has to say because that is my final authority. If it says I am healed then I am healed,” Ms Burrows told Tribune Religion.

Making daily confessions using the word of God as a seed is something Sheldon, a Baptist follower, said he is putting into practice.

“Just like the farmer I have to continue water the seed. I have to say it everyday and believe what I say. That is the only way I will see the manifestations of the good things I speak,” he said.