Parable of the Sower
Last week, I wrote about distractions. I read the Parable of the Sower this morning and, again, I felt that it spoke to how easily I am distracted. As focused as I am determined to be, I still get easily distracted by things happening in my life or my plans for the future.
In this parable, Jesus uses “seeds” as the “Word”. Satan will come along and take the Word away from some. Some will have short-lived joy because the Word doesn’t take root. The next one is the one that I feel I struggle with. The worries of life and desire for other things choke the Word.
18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Mark 4:18-19 (NIV)
Time with God
I recently went on a walk and I felt God speaking to me. As I was turning over some things in my mind, I clearly heard and understood where I was going wrong. I was allowing things to worry and stress me, instead of trusting God. I worry about my child and God told me that her path is set before her and that she is in His hands. At the moment, I need to focus on my relationship with Him. I tend to allow fear to keep me immobile, instead of trusting that God has also set my path.
I got home really ready to move forward and I started to get things ready to go. However, one day later, I was again stressed and hyper-focusing on the “how”. The “how” is not my worry. God will take care of the “how”. I need to be ready to move when it’s time to go.
The Good Soil
Like those who have good soil, I want to hear the Word, accept it, and produce a crop. My crop will consist of having faith in the Lord, going where He guides me and spreading His message to others. I need to stop focusing so much on the “how”, God will show me when it’s time. I just need to be ready. By continuing to work on my relationship with Him, I will know when it’s time.
If you want to be one of those with “good soil”, continue to meditate on His word. If there is a passage that you are drawn to, pray about it. God will reveal the reason that it touches you. Continue to build your relationship and you will learn to hear His voice. Be ready to act when God speaks. It may be as small as calling a friend or as big as moving to a new area.
Have a blessed and prosperous week!
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.