Fertilizing the Soil
How can you increase your peace?
Verse of the Day
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Today’s Devotional
I mentioned yesterday that I am not very good with plants. But there are things I could do to become a better caretaker of my plants. I could research how much light and water each type of plant needs. I could ask someone more knowledgeable how best to prune each kind of plant. I could be consistent in feeding and watering them, making sure they don’t get too much water which will cause them just as much damage as if I never watered them. I could also make sure they are getting enough air. (I might have recently killed a beautiful ivy because it was planted in the wrong kind of pot and it’s roots weren’t getting any air. I learned my lesson. My new ivy is doing much better.)
Now that I’ve confessed all of my plant care sins, I’ll get to my point. I doubt there is anyone reading this post who would say, “No, I don’t need God’s peace. Or at least I don’t need any more than I already have. I’ve got enough.”
I tend to always want more, and I definitely want more of God’s peace. I actually want more of every fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 . Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Self control.
This verse tells us how to get more of God’s peace. We are told not to worry, which means we need to actively be choosing to trust God. Trust His timing, His provision, His plan. We are told to pray about EVERYTHING. Not just the stuff we think we are supposed to talk to God about. We are told to tell Him what we need. And yes, He already knows what you need, but He still wants you to talk to Him about it. That’s what a relationship looks like. And we are told to thank Him for all He has done.
When we are actively choosing to do these things, THEN we will experience God’s peace. If…then. If we choose trust, prayer, and gratitude, then we experience God’s peace.
What if trust, prayer, and gratitude are fertilizers for the soil of our heart? Doesn’t it sound like a good idea to consistently do the things that will till the soil of our hearts?
Jesus told a story about soil. He described four different types of soil. The first type of soil (the footpath soil) describes people who hear the Word and don’t understand it, so the seed is snatched away. The second is the rocky soil, which describes people who hear God’s message and receive it with joy, but the roots can’t grow deep because of the rocks, and as soon as they encounter problems they fall away. The thorny soil represents people who hear God’s message but it is quickly crowded out by the cares and concerns of this world. Jesus says that worries or lures of wealth cause this type of “soil” not to be fruitful. Then there’s the good soil, which receives God’s message and produces a bountiful harvest.
The preaching pastor at my church says that all of us have all four types of soil in our hearts. I might be reaping a harvest when it comes to reading my Bible, but when it comes to actively and intentionally obeying the directions given in the Bible, my heart’s soil might be rocky. Or thorny. Or completely hard. But we can change our soil. As long as we are willing to do the work.
For today, let’s invite God to help us prepare the soil of our heart to receive any word He has for us by trusting, praying, and being grateful for EVERYTHING He has done.
Today’s Gratitude Challenge: What is something that makes you smile? Choose to think about this and write out your gratitude for whatever makes you smile. Proverbs 15:13 says, “A glad heart makes a happy face”. I am challenging you today to have a glad heart about something that made you have a happy face.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
Write down something that makes you smile and why you are grateful for it.
How can you choose trust instead of worry today?
What all do you need to talk over with God? Write it out to Him.
What all has He done for you? Make a list and thank Him for each thing.
Can you identify which parts of your heart’s soil need work? What are you willing to do about it?