A few years ago, in the middle of a financially tough time, I began praying for seed to sow because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:10 (NKJV), “God supplies seed to the sower.”

As I prayed and believed for seed according to Mark 11:24 — “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” — I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Determine your field!”

The field you choose to sow in determines the outcome. Scripture speaks of different kinds of giving that bring different results. What I was praying about was an offering. An offering is anything beyond the tithe, which is 10%. Malachi 3:10 speaks of the tithe, telling us to test God and see that He will open the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that there will not be room to contain it.

But Luke 6:38 speaks of offerings: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

A few days after praying for seed, I determined my field for a particular ministry. I felt I would need a substantial seed for it. Soon after, someone approached me and said, “The Lord told me to give you this money.” I immediately knew it was my seed!

It wasn’t as large as I had expected. Don’t get me wrong, I was thankful. But I still said to the Lord, “This seed isn’t as substantial as I thought, but Lord, I thank You for supplying seed. I expect a hundredfold return on the field I determined.”

God has a way of teaching us in the middle of our own expectations. That very day, I came across Jeremiah 32. Jeremiah also determined his field. He purchased his cousin’s land because the Lord told him to, even though it looked like a war zone. It didn’t look like a prize—it looked chaotic and hopeless. Yet that field carried a prophetic promise.

Here’s what I realized: it’s not the size of the ministry, their office, car, or name that determines the outcome of the seed you sow. Like Jeremiah, it’s about obedience—sowing in the field where the Lord directs.

The Holy Spirit said to determine my field, but not on my own. It’s not something we decide out of our head or based on what looks impressive. It must be done in the counsel of the Lord.

Psalm 33:11 says, “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” That is what we want—His plan and His heart.

Think about the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30; Luke 19:12–28). Two servants invested their talents and produced increase. The third hid his talent. He showed no obedience, and there was no increase. What he had was taken away and given to the one who had multiplied the most.

We may see some ministries thriving and assume that’s the right field to sow into. But faith does not operate by sight. God wants to answer prayers and increase smaller ministries as well—and He will use us to do it. That’s why we must go to the Holy Spirit and ask, “Lord, is there a particular place You want me to sow?”

Go into the counsel room with the Lord and determine your field with Him.

When we determine our field in the counsel of the Lord, our seed connects to His promise, not just our preference. The blessing is never about the size of the gift, but the obedience of the giver. Your seed, no matter how small it looks, carries prophetic potential when planted in God’s chosen ground.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for supplying seed to the sower. Teach me to hear Your voice clearly and to sow where You direct me. I lay down my own expectations and ask for the counsel of Your Spirit. Lead me to the field You have prepared, and let the seed I plant produce fruit that glorifies You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.