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Our Heart-Soil: Planting Seed

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Have you ever thought of your heart as a bed of soil for the seed of God’s Word to grow? When better than spring—a time known for new growth—to consider the soil of our hearts? How well does it allow the word of the Lord to grow? Won’t you join me this week as we search for answers? You might be as surprised by what we discover!

Planting Seed

“Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.”

Mark 4:13-14 NLT

Soil isn’t the only thing important for effective seed growth. The planting of the seed is just as vital because, without proper planting, no seed will grow.

Friday_Day_Five_Pic_#1-Onion_PlanterYears ago, I wanted to help my mother grow vegetables in our backyard garden. One day she asked me to plant the row of onions while she went inside to take care of something. “No problem, Mother, I can do that!” However, it seemed to take them a long while to come up. After no sight of onions for some time, my mother asked me if I’d ever even planted them. I assured her I had.

“Then why aren’t they showing,” she queried? Finally, she went out to check them herself and discovered that I’d placed each bulb in the ground pointy-side down. No wonder they weren’t growing. I’d planted them upside down. They’d never grow that way. Turns out I didn’t have any idea of how to plant the onions because I’d never actually seen her do it nor did I bother to ask. I mean, how hard could it be, right? You’ve got a bulb, you’ve got the ground, and you shove it in there, voila! I thought I knew. Had I simply asked, wouldn’t she have told me? Of course she would.

The same principle applies with spreading God’s Word. Read today’s Dose verse. God commands us to spread the Good News of salvation to others. But, if our hearts are not receptive to the Holy Spirit and God’s word, like those of the religious leaders Jesus spoke to in parables, we won’t be equipped to plant His seed to anyone.

Friday_Day_Five_Pic_#2-Hands_on_BibleWhen our hearts are right toward the Lord, the Holy Spirit works in and through us to plant the seed of God’s word into the hearts and lives of others. We need only be willing and ask Him to do so.

There are so many people around us who don’t know the hope of salvation and new life in Christ Jesus. Maybe you’re saying today that this is you, Dear Lady. Do you want Him to change you? He’s waiting to, just ask.

If you’re already a believer, have you asked the Master Planter how He wants to use you to effectively sew the seed of His Word into the lives of people within your sphere of influence today? He is faithful and will provide you with the answer.

Planting the seed,

Rita

Our Heart-Soil: Fertile Soil

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Have you ever thought of your heart as a bed of soil for the seed of God’s Word to grow? When better than spring—a time known for new growth—to consider the soil of our hearts? How well does it allow the word of the Lord to grow? Won’t you join me this week as we search for answers? You might be as surprised by what we discover!

Fertile Soil

“Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Mark 4:8 NLT

Thursday_Day_Four_Pic-TangerinesWhen I was in grade school I asked my father where babies came from. He told me a parent plants a seed and in about nine months the baby arrives. A few days later, I noticed him laughing with my mother while she showed him something. It was a picture that I’d drawn. My teacher had instructed us to make a drawing about where we came from. Based upon my excellent research, I drew a picture of my daddy planting seeds in a garden in one frame and my twin sister and me jumping up out of the ground in the next.

As we’ve considered the soil of our hearts this week, we’ve seen that hardened, shallow, and thorny soils have proven to be insufficient for growth. No precious seed could grow into a productive, multiplying crop in those beds. Likewise, no heart soil of those beds can manifest the type of fruit that the word of the Lord produces. So what soil is effective for growing great fruit? What kind of heart soil receives and allows the word of the Lord to grow?

Fertile soil is the answer. Women who’ve given birth to a lot of children are sometimes referred to as fertile myrtles. Myrtle was a popular baby name many years ago. I don’t know anyone with that name today but I’ve certainly heard the phrase. The fertile part of the phrase speaks for itself; she’s got a fruitful, lush, and productive womb, excellent for growing babies. My mother birthed six babies within an eight-year span. She was certainly a fertile myrtle! Read today’s Dose verse.

Fertile soil is neither too hard for seed absorption nor so shallow that it can’t sustain deep roots. It’s properly maintained to ensure thorns don’t grow up, strangle the seed, and impede its growth. We read in Mark 4:20, … the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted! The fertile soil didn’t just produce a standard amount of crop; it produced a hundred times more than was even planted! God gave that increase.

When we allow our hearts to be tender and receptive to the Word of God and the working of the Hoy Spirit, God gives an abundant increase to our humble and obedient efforts, for His glory.

Are you working with a fertile heart soil today, Sweet Friend? You can be.

Finding the fertile,

Rita

Our Heart-Soil: Thorny Soil

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Have you ever thought of your heart as a bed of soil for the seed of God’s Word to grow? When better than spring—a time known for new growth—to consider the soil of our hearts? How well does it allow the word of the Lord to grow? Won’t you join me this week as we search for answers? You might be as surprised by what we discover!

Thorny Soil

“Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.” Mark 4:7, NLT

Wednesday_Day_Three_Pic-Thorn_HeartHave you ever choked on a piece of food or something that got stuck in your throat? I’ve seen more than one person with the wide-eyed look of fright on their faces because they were choking. I’ve also experienced it. It’s unpleasant and scary because you feel like you can’t breathe. And how do we come to choke in the first place? Often it’s the result of some distraction from what we’re doing. Inhaling too fast, trying to speak  or laugh, or gagging on something too large to swallow can be the cause.

Sometimes God’s Word doesn’t grow in our hearts because we allow the cares of the world to steal our focus and have priority in our lives. For some this may be a drive to power, fame, or riches. For others it can take the form of unhealthy habits, which can lead to addictions. Yet others get lost in worry and fear. These cares could not ensnare us though, unless we put our trust in them. Just as thorns can’t choke out plants without getting a good hold on them, sin can’t extinguish the growth of God’s Word in the life of a believer without that believer’s assistance. We make the choices that lead to a choking out of the Word in our lives.

Thorny soil robs the seed of much growth by squeezing the life out of it while it’s young and vulnerable. Read todays Dose verse. In Mark 4:18-19 we read, The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

The thorns that choke out growth are examples of sin, which entered the world with Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God. Literally, they are part of the curse of the land. Just as they choke out the growth of young fruits, veggies, and plants, a heart of thorns chokes out the growth of the word in the life of believers. Then they squeeze and squeeze until all growth dies.

Maybe as you read this today, you realize that your heart is overrun with thorns that are choking the life out of your spiritual growth. Be encouraged; our Lord is able and willing to free you from those thorns. Ask Him. You needn’t stay ensnared another minute.

Releasing the chokehold,

Rita