The Bible tells us to guard our hearts, but that doesn’t mean we are to build walls. We are to protect our hearts from the enemy’s fiery darts – not from people. Our purpose here is for each other. To share, serve, and give. Sharing the gospel, serving in love for one another, and giving our time, gifts, and love. Our Savior didn’t come to earth just so we had a way to Heaven. As we continue in our Christian walk, we know we are to bear fruit – the Fruit of the Spirit. This is how we build the Kingdom. Let’s look at bearing fruit the way a gardener or farmer would – from the ground.
Our hearts need good soil. Jesus spoke of how seeds sown in rocky places don’t take root, and seeds among the thorns get choked out, but the seeds in good soil will bear fruit. When the disciples didn’t understand, Jesus explained it to them.
“Listen then to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away.
And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”
We cannot expect to bear fruit if we haven’t cultivated the ground. We must pick up God’s Word daily. I cannot stress the importance of staying in His Word. Let it pierce your heart. Protect your heart, but don’t let it become hardened. Don’t let the chaos of the word ‘choke’ you and steal your joy.
When you guard your heart with the Word of God, you nurture and ‘turn over’ the ground by living and walking by faith.
If you harden your heart, you may think you are protecting yourself from the world, but instead, you are allowing the world to entangle you in weeds and choke any fruit you have to bear.
I have seen so many young women trying to be brave after being hurt, yet I see the walls they build. I see them growl like wounded animals – revealing to the world they are still a victim.
Be careful whom you are listening to. Follow the positive, joyful people who walk by faith. When we are rooted in good soil, peace surrounds us, and nothing that is apart from the kingdom can stand in the presence of God.
Surrender your whole heart, and you will see the chaos fade and peace fill your life. The enemy must bow to Him – and the lies of the enemy. Shame, guilt, fear, and criticism will all bow to He who is greater and victorious!
How is your dirt?