Momentum For Monday, March 7th 2022

“…plow the hard ground of your hearts…” (Hosea 10:12)

Every year as a kid, I'd watch my dad bust out the tiller in the spring before planting the annual garden. I never thought much about when I was young, I just knew it was something that was done. But I understand now how necessary it is the whole idea of gardening.

Plowing is the hardest part. Breaking up hard, cold ground was not an easy thing to do- even with a motorized tiller. Depending on the condition of the ground can make for one massive workout when plowing (unless you do this for a living, then you probably have a fancy-schmancy commercial grade tiller that makes this phase way easier to handle). If the ground is dry, cold, rocky, or laden with roots, you've got yourself a workout. But, if you want a good harvest, this has to be done.

I'm not a farmer, but I can tell you that harvests don't just come because a farmer or gardener wills it. Work goes on long before that occurs, there's a lot of intentionality. Tilling, planting, watering, weeding, and waiting all occur before we get to the fruits of our labor.

I find this parallel relevant in my spiritual life over anything else. In my quiet time with God, I'll often break out the tiller and ask him to use it on my heart and mind. What areas have gone cold in me? Break it, God. What area of my thoughts are hard as a rock Lord? Break it. What generational issues need uprooted? Obviously, this isn't instantaneous as much as it is a process, but isn't that general idea we've been discussing today- the process of harvesting starting with plowing?

Plowing isn't the famed part of the process of gardening, but it can't be skipped. People often don't mind sowing or watering something in their lives and never see a harvest and wonder why. Just like the parable of the sower tells us in Matthew 13:5-6, "Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died."

If this is you, don't be afraid of the tiller. God knows how to plow better than anyone- He is the Master Gardener. The first part of the Bible opens up in His garden after all. It's spring time y'all, let's break up the ground.

“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”

(Psalm 51:17)