Breaking Hard Ground: Preparing My Heart for the Lord Jesus
Imagine that my life is a field.
Every day, I plant seeds through my thoughts, choices, words, habits, and actions. Some seeds produce good fruit. Others produce things I wish I had never planted. Eventually, what I sow begins to grow.
Hosea 10:12 gives me a powerful picture of what happens when the soil of my heart becomes hard:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
This message is personal. The Lord Jesus wants me to examine the condition of my heart. He wants me to break up the hard places so His Word can take root and produce good fruit.
My Heart Is the Soil
First, I must recognize that my heart is like soil.
A farmer cannot expect a good harvest from ground that has never been prepared. Likewise, I cannot expect spiritual growth while allowing bitterness, pride, unforgiveness, disobedience, or spiritual laziness to remain in my heart.
Sometimes, my heart becomes hard without me realizing it.
For example, disappointment can make me stop trusting. Hurt can make me stop loving. Repeated failure can make me stop trying. Worldly distractions can slowly replace prayer, Bible reading, and fellowship with the Lord Jesus.
Eventually, the ground becomes hard.
However, the Lord Jesus does not want me to remain that way.
I Must Break Up the Hard Ground
Next, Hosea tells me to “break up” my fallow ground.
Breaking hard ground requires effort. A farmer must work the soil before planting the seed. Similarly, I must allow the Lord Jesus to work on the areas of my life that have become resistant to His Word.
Therefore, I must ask myself some difficult questions.
Am I holding on to unforgiveness?
Am I allowing anger to control me?
Have I stopped praying because I became disappointed?
Am I hearing the Word but refusing to obey it?
Have I become comfortable with attitudes that I know are not pleasing to the Lord Jesus?
These questions may hurt, but they can also lead to healing.
When I honestly examine my heart, I give the Lord Jesus permission to reveal what needs to change.
I Must Sow the Right Seeds
Breaking up the ground is only part of the process.
I must also sow righteousness.
Galatians 6:7-9 reminds me that I will reap what I sow. Therefore, I cannot continually plant anger and expect peace. I cannot plant hatred and expect love. I cannot plant dishonesty and expect trust.
Instead, I must intentionally plant good seeds.
I can sow kindness when someone treats me badly.
I can sow forgiveness when someone hurts me.
I can sow encouragement when someone feels discouraged.
I can sow faith when circumstances look impossible.
I can sow obedience when my flesh wants to go another way.
Most importantly, I can sow the Word of the Lord Jesus into my heart.
As I do, those seeds can produce a harvest that blesses both my life and the people around me.
Seeking the Lord Changes the Soil
Hosea also says, “it is time to seek the LORD.”
Notice the urgency.
It does not say that tomorrow is the best time. It does not say that I should wait until my circumstances improve. It says, “it is time.”
Therefore, today is the right time for me to seek the Lord Jesus.
When I pray, I seek Him.
When I read His Word, I seek Him.
When I worship, I seek Him.
When I obey His commands, I seek Him.
When I turn away from sin and return to Him, I seek Him.
Seeking the Lord Jesus softens my heart and prepares me for spiritual growth.
The Harvest Depends on What I Plant
Every farmer understands a simple principle: the harvest is connected to the seed.
Likewise, my future will be influenced by the choices I make today.
If I continually sow faith, obedience, love, patience, forgiveness, and righteousness, I can expect those seeds to produce good fruit in my life.
However, if I continue sowing sinful habits, bitterness, pride, and disobedience, I should not be surprised when those things produce painful consequences.
That is why I must pay attention to what I am planting.
It Is Time to Seek the Lord Jesus
Perhaps my heart has become hard.
Perhaps disappointment has buried my joy. Perhaps sin has created distance between me and the Lord Jesus. Perhaps I have simply become distracted and stopped seeking Him as I once did.
Still, there is hope.
The Lord Jesus is calling me back.
Therefore, I will not wait.
I will break up the hard ground.
I will remove the weeds.
I will prepare my heart.
I will sow righteousness.
I will seek the Lord Jesus.
And I will trust Him for the harvest.
My prayer today is simple:
Lord Jesus, search my heart. Show me every hard place that needs to be broken. Remove everything that prevents Your Word from growing in me. Help me sow righteousness through my words, choices, relationships, and actions. Soften my heart and help me seek You every day. Let my life produce fruit that honors You. Amen.
It is time to seek the Lord Jesus.
It is time to seek Him.
It is time to break up the hard ground.
It is time to plant good seeds.
It is time for a new harvest.
Interactive Quiz
What condition best describes the “soil” of your heart today?
A. Soft and ready to receive the Word
B. A little dry and needing prayer
C. Hard because of disappointment or hurt
D. Distracted by the cares of life
Reflection: What is one area of you
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more inspiring biblical encouragement and faith-filled content:
Possibility Plus:
https://www.youtube.com/@PossibilityPluspm
Support our ministry and help us continue sharing hope, truth, and the message of the lord Jesus Christ:
https://printify.com/app/store/products/1
Get your copy of Deceived No More: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing by Paul Edwards:
https://www.amazon.com/Deceived-No-More-Wolves-Clothing/dp/B0FVFFVYYB
Keep walking. Keep trusting. Keep in step with the Spirit.