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Cold Hard Ground

  • Sow to yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; For it is time to seek Yahweh, Until He comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 WEB.

    I grew up on a farm, and over the long cold winter, the ground of the fields would become so hard that water would just run off of it like a rock. The rain would not penetrate the crust but just run through its cracks. When spring came, we would have to plow it with a tractor and break it all up to get it ready to plant. We would then plant the seed, the rain would come, and later we would get a harvest. Each year we had to do this to see a harvest. Without hard work, there was no reward. Only weeds would grow in the field.

    Left alone, our hearts will become as hard as a rock. Life happens. You add a little hurt here, another disappointment there, someone lies to you again, and soon a bigger wall goes up to protect us. We can become cynical and add another layer of protection to our little shells. If the rain does come, it will run off, leaving us dry and bare because our hearts have grown hard and calloused from use and abuse.

    I had a rough upbringing. There was a time in my life when I could count everyone I cared about on one hand and still have a couple of fingers left. No one hurt me anymore because they were already an enemy when I met them. Yet, God didn't leave me like that. For even though I had no interest in people, as I tried to grow closer to Jesus, He began to peel those layers off of me like an onion. Slowly He opened me up, and eventually, I could show love and be loved. It was something I had never known before I met Him. He loved me too much to leave me like I was.

    In ancient Palestine, farming was a bit different than today. They scattered the seed first, then plowed it into the ground. Think of the parable that Jesus told of the sower in Matthew 13:3. You hear the word of God, then we plow it into our ground by doing it. He will then take care of everything else and provide the rain, the nutrients, and the sunshine to make it grow. Working together with Him, we bring forth a harvest.

    God can heal a hardened heart if you let Him, but we often hold Him at a distance. We don't really trust Him. Yet, we have to work with Him to advance. He gives us a word, and we break up the ground by doing what He told us, then He provides the rain. We study, He reveals something new, we then try and live it, and there is a reward. The rain that comes from being in the Lord's presence and His word will soften our hearts over time, make them grow, and begin to heal.

    Seek the Lord and His presence, and don't let your heart become cold and hard. Spend a little time talking to Him each day and cultivate a relationship. There can't be a harvest until the ground is made ready, and many fields have sat unchanged for decades.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly and give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Please help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

    Note: For those following the Creation Photography weekly challenges, group leader, Dianna Wyles: Psalm 126:2-3 "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations,'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." ~ 'Smile Time Occasions' will be our next fun-tastic theme and is open wide for your creative flair so take some pictures and have some fun. My photos this week are of things that make me smile. My husband, Dave, of course! He likes to make me smile. Also family, hearts, and pretty much anything pretty in nature makes me smile. What makes your heart joyful? I'm interested! Have a wonderful week, everyone! Live, Love, and Laugh often ~ God bless! Here is the link: Creation Photographers


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22 comments
  • 2
Kevin J. Eck
Kevin J. Eck Amen
Jun 13
  • 3
Laura Clark
Laura Clark Such a good analogy. Thanks be to God for the promises of rain after we do the work of drawing near. You are our Lord Jesus. Amen!
Jun 13
  • 1
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

Amen!

Jun 13
  • 0
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly and give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Please help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! ❤️
Jun 13
  • 4
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen 

Jun 13
  • 4
Celeste Strenn
Celeste Strenn

Amen 

Jun 13
  • 4
Brenda F
Brenda F

Amen

Jun 13
  • 3
Dana Rozell
Dana Rozell

In Jesus Name Amen.

Jun 13
  • 3
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen Good Morning Everyone Have A Blessed Day 

Jun 13
  • 3
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Amen 

Jun 13
  • 2
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

In Lord Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Jun 13
  • 1
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Amen, send me your will for my life Father, bring the rain or the fire your will not mine , I want to know you more Jesus 

Jun 13
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

This I pray, In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Jun 13
  • 1
Mark Williams
Mark Williams

Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly and give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Please help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Jun 13
  • 1
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

Lord, break up the pieces of my heart that have hardened and send Your rain. Thank you. Amen!

Jun 13
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

Jun 13
  • 1
Yada (Wendy)
Yada (Wendy)

Hmmm... Towel sounds like Lent 

λέντιον

Jun 13
  • 1
David Krull
David Krull

Amen

Jun 13
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

God I try so hard to have a kind heart. Please soften people's hearts in this world. Amen

Jun 13
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Yes, amen Lord. 

Jun 14
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen! 

Jun 14
  • 1
Marilyn Salter
Marilyn Salter

This is me all over. Slowly the walls have come down, but not all of them. Thank you for this message. 

Jun 15