Gail Rodgers Sharing the Journey

Trusting God Part 13 - What is Your Soil Type

by Gail Rodgers

The rain had come, that wasn’t the problem. I discovered it was the soil. The sandy soil needed enriching and I had not put anything into it. The spruce trees surrounding the garden had pulled much of the moisture to their roots. Their acidic needles had helped create an environment that stunted growth. The seeds had been good, but the soil they fell into was not.

I couldn’t help seeing the spiritual analogy as I stood looking at my corn. God’s Word is the seed that comes into our lives. We know He says He loves us unconditionally; we know He says He will be our strength where we are weak; we know He says He will give us grace and wisdom when we need it. The seed is good. Yet our lives often fail to show the bountiful fruit of His Spirit as we walk through our day and respond with actions and re-actions that we wish we didn’t.

God tells us why this is so. He tells us we need to tend the soil of our hearts. Listen…

“The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.” Luke 8:11-15

A closed mind and acidic environment allows the enemy of our souls to steal the seeds that bounce off the hard ground we have allowed in our hearts. Is there any area of your heart you have closed off from God?

“Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for awhile, but in the time of testing they fall away.” God’s Word can not take deep root in a mind that is occupied primarily with the superficial. The appeal of His help and activity in one’s life is attractive, but when trusting becomes hard the seed just falls away. Ask God to increase your faith and give you a depth that will cling to Him beyond the superficial so you can prove His faithfulness for yourself.

“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures and they do not mature.” Do you read God’s Word or listen to a sermon thinking, “Yes, that’s really good”, but forget to apply it as soon as the cares of this life distract your thoughts? Ask God to help you focus on His purposes for your life.

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it and by persevering produce a crop.” Retain what God says. Write it out, memorize it, cling to it through the good and the hard times and it will produce a bountiful crop in your life that will amaze you!