“The Sower soweth the word.... And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:14, 20)
Does the sower sow indiscriminately? Does he plant his precious seed by chance? Does the seed have a chance, if it is sown by chance? Jesus’ parable predicts doom for the seed that is sown in unprepared soil. The seed has to be coupled with soil which is conducive to its growth and production. Why waste seed in useless soil? Solomon, in Proverbs 17:16, said it amply, “Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?” We may have the best teachers and go to the finest schools, but it will avail us nothing if our hearts and minds are not prepared for the instruction we will receive.
Ask the Lord to teach you to appreciate the importance of heart preparation. Ask Him to help you to wait patiently in solitude. Seek Him to accomplish the task for the things He desires to plant in your heart at this time. Thank Him for His abiding peace.
Consider: Jeremiah 18:1-6; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi: 3:1-3
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On Day 3 of the fast, the lesson speaks of having our hearts prepared. When you think about it in terms of preparing for a race, it is easy to understand that there is a process of getting in shape before taking on a 5k or 10k race (hope for you runners I said that right!). Below is a portion of the scripture shared by Pastor Carl in the early morning prayer meeting today. The first part of it speaks of how God prepares us:
Hosea 6:1 "Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn , and he will heal us; he hath smitten , and he will bind us up . 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up , and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know , if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."
...But the verse that stood out to me most (v.3), was a reminder to me that it is usually pretty easy in the beginning when we set out to do something inspired, or noble, or to please the Lord or improve on our lives; but it's the ".....if we follow on" part that is most difficult. It is also where the prize is, as in running a marathon.
Let us press on to obtain the prize.
I think the prayer I pray the most is that I would be teachable. That God would do what He needs to do to help me grow in Him.
One of my favorite scriptures:
Proverbs 8:32-35
Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
Ephesians 1 4-5 states God chose us before the foundations of the world were formed...I find myself thankful and humble before God for choosing me. Proverbs 4:23 says we need to keep our hearts with all diligence for out of it flows the things of life. We need to watch what we let in our hearts. Jesus said in Matt.15,16-20 "What comes out of our mouths defiles us because it comes from or heart." Jesus also said, " What you treasure most will be in your heart." that in Matt 6,21. Everything comes from the heart from your confessing of Jesus as Lord, to the releasing of your faith in God. I always remember Jesus saying that He could not do many miracles due to the hardness of peoples hearts and the unbelief in them.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
Upon praying this prayer, the following verse was brought to mind:
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19
I really liked the Good News Translation of Proverbs 17:16 which says, "It does a fool no good to spend money on an education, because he has no common sense." If our hearts are not malleable, moldable, willing to be purified or refined as silver, we are just wasting good seed on unprepared soil. My prayer is that we all allow God to be the potter and mold us according to His will.
In reference to my comment above, and after yesterday's word to take hold of the promised land, I find it very encouraging and exciting that NOW is the time to cross over the "rivers" of fear, doubt, unbelief, or whatever is hindering us (looking forward, not back), and as Pastor Carl stated, "to take hold of the promise land by faith"! I am humbled to be a part of this "new thing" God is doing!!!
More of You, God. More of You. I think that sums up much of what I felt and prayed during the Monday night prayer meeting.
We waged war against enemies within and without. We interceded against strongholds of fear (God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind) that have plagued God's people. But we also confronted the dead roots in our own hearts and ask God to lay His axe to them.
Monday morning brought us to brokenness. God searched our hearts and godly sorrow for our sin, accompanied by the joy of our salvation, was prevalent. God does not despise our brokenness. It is the sacrifice He is well pleased with (Psalm 51:16-18).
Our anticipation in prayer is building each day. We're expectant and in earnest.
Blessings
I was impressed by Licia's comment concerning the purification of silver. We prayed in the same vain at prayer this morning.
Jamie, thanks for the verse from Isaiah 43. It has encouraged me this morning. I believe that God is giving us a new song for our new day. I keep listening for it.
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