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Listen while you read: "Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven"1
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Luke 8:4-8a – While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." (NIV)
Spring has sprung, and with it, my thoughts stray to gardening. As we will be living in a new home this spring, one without an established garden, I wonder what the soil will be like. I am hoping that it will be good soil, but I really have no idea.
The important thing, though, is that I know that poor, neglected, or bad soil can be made into good soil. With the proper cultivation, fertilization, water, and nutrients, what was not suitable for growing a good crop can be transformed into good soil that yields a wonderful harvest.
Our spiritual lives are similar. They can range anywhere from rocky, hard, dry, and weed infested, to good. It all depends on what we are cultivating and adding to them. Do the habits that I already have or that I am considering adding to my life improve and grow my desires for God and my relationship with Him, or do they foster worldly views and actions? What is my daily routine like? Does it set aside time for the spiritual: Bible study, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and positive practices like healthy exercise and good eating choices?
What we put into the soil of the earth makes a huge difference as to whether or not that soil is being built up to produce healthy vegetation and crops. What we put into the soil of our spiritual lives does likewise. It either grows our relationship with God or it takes away from it.
For good soil to remain good, it must also be carefully tended year by year, as the growing of crops and weather conditions can easily deplete the soil, turning the soil from good to mediocre or even useless.
Our spiritual soil must also be cared for to ensure that it not only remains good but also gets even better year by year. So, let's keep a close check on our spiritual lives. Let's remember to cultivate, feed, water, and enrich them with the nourishment of God's Word, fellowship with other Christians, prayer, study, and taking time to appreciate the beauty of the created world around us, giving glory and praise to the One Who has blessed us with such delights.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that each one of us can be good soil — the kind of soil that produces a rich harvest for the blessing of others as well as for Your eternal kingdom. Help us to remember to feed our spiritual lives daily by cultivating truth and goodness into them. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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About the author:
Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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Lynne – may your new location be richly satisfying, a wonderful source for the growth of God-honouring devotionals.
Good morning,
Wish you well on your journey to your new home.
Keep writing, I always like your down to earth messages.
I’m getting that as soon as I read two or three paragraphs, I know that it is you contributing.
Your knack of personalizing your devotion to us is appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Lynne. You truly are gifted with showing the readers how to relate and God’s Word in simple yet meaningful ways. I am still praying your safe travels with family and livestock.
Thank you for the meditation. It also depends on the soil’s receptivity to growth. If it is dry and desert it will not produce and if it is flooded with water, it will not produce either. The soil has to be ready to receive the seed too. Just a thought you inspired in me. Thanks again.
Lynne, this is such an excellent and “down to earth” lesson for us today! I love that Easter is celebrated right at the time of great examples of seeds taking root and springing to life. Remembering the resurrection daily always renews the soil of my heart.
Thank you for your good words today, and I hope you find good soil for the new garden at your new location.
Lynne, I appreciate these thoughts about the possibility of poor soil being improved, along with the caution of good soil needing to be cared for. The spiritual applications are particularly apt.
Best wishes to you in the perhaps-daunting adventure of moving that lies ahead of you. Moving is always a great opportunity to clear out clutter and unneeded belongings!
Good morning, Lynne,
A great message and prayer to help us remember that our faith as well as the soil needs to be replenished in order to be nourished and enriched.
Best of wishes for your move and you find good soil, good neighbours, good roof over your head, and a good life with lots of growth and love. May God guide your steps along the way. Blessings.
Dear Lynne, what a beautiful analogy you have written! When I read the title this morning, I immediately thought this devotional will be from Lynne and it was. You are “right on” that there are ways we can enrich the garden soil but there are so many more ways we can enrich the souls of people in our lives and at the same time give great honour and praise to our loving Lord. Blessings for your very special writings and finding time to do them while in the process of your big move to another Province.
Hi Lynne,
Today I had the opportunity to do just what you are talking about as I shared the Good News with a family for whom I am leading a Celebration of Life for the wife and mother of this family who died a couple of weeks ago. The Lord blest our time this afternoon as we prepare for the Service tomorrow.
I know the Lord will bless your move and your new home. You will be missed in Atlin, but you will make new friends who will be a blessing to you as you will be to them.
Praise God King of Creation – as I see rebirth of my garden of tulips.
Thank you so much, Lynne.
Praying for you and your family in these busy days. May the LORD direct and safely guard your paths to Alberta.
Good morning, Lynne,
Big changes ahead for you. Been there, done that. A very good devotional, reminding that we need to cultivate and look after our spiritual life as well.
Thank you.
Hello Lynne
Praying for you and your family as you move.
Thanks Lynne. I know you were moving in May. I hope your move went well. I said quite a few prayers for you. Take care. And God bless you for your many devotionals that are right on.