Amos prophesied how miraculous and amazing God’s blessing will be for the nation of Israel. Fundraisers dream of this kind of abundance. Here are four principles that can shape your approach.
Pray for Quick Blessing
When God releases his blessing, the fruit comes quickly. The New Living Translation puts it this way: “The time will come when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested.” In modern farming the image would be the planter running into the combine before the dust from the last harvest settles. The fundraising image is you start a new project or campaign on the heels of the last one because your ministry partners are so eager to give.
Pray for Gifts from Unexpected Places
Normally, grapevines don’t grow well on mountains or high hills, but in the days of Israel’s restoration even the mountains shall drip with sweet wine and all the hills will flow with it. God has a way of sending provision from places you would never think to look. Bill, who leads a rescue mission, recently experienced exactly that. Jenny had moved to the area just a few months earlier and sent a $10,000 gift out of the blue. Bill visited her planning to ask for $50,000 campaign gift. Their conversation went in several different directions, and he never got around to asking. As he was leaving, she handed him a crumpled check. Later, when he finally opened it, it was for $50,000. He sat in his car for a long moment, not quite believing what he was holding.
Pray for Abundant Gifts
When God leads your fundraising efforts, he responds with abundance and quality. Amos prophesied the harvest would drip with wine. Remember Jesus’ miracle at the wedding in Cana: “You have saved the best till now” (John 2:10). God didn’t just provide wine, he provided the finest wine of the evening. When you approach your campaign asking the Lord for help and guidance, he has a way of surprising you with gifts that are better than anything you thought to ask for.
Pray for Strength to Work
When God releases his blessing, your fundraising efforts are blessed, but it still requires work. The plowman, the reaper, the treader of grapes, and the one who sows seed still have their work to do. God doesn’t just do it all for them, but under his blessing the work is done with energy and joy. Spurgeon reminded the church that even in lean seasons, our job is faithfulness, not outcomes. We keep sowing, keep telling the story, and trust God for the harvest.
Think About This: God is the one who brings the harvest, but he invites you into the work. Whether the season feels abundant or lean, keep praying, keep asking, and keep showing up. The effort is yours. The results are his.
Response: Lord, we pray for an abundant fundraising harvest. Give us the strength to keep telling our story and asking your people to join us.
