Something's Gotta Give

My life feels full- filled to the brim full. 

There are so many wonderful and positive ways to view life, and I feel guilty to write this.  However, I can’t shake off the mindset that there is a constant treadmill of obligations, looming deadlines, and an ever-increasing amount of responsibility.  The self-imposed pressure to excel is heavy, and in pursuing it, God’s word gets read, but at times doesn’t stick.

When I look at the Bible, it exposes my heart.  Jesus talks about my heart when he explains the parable of the seeds:

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.

What was the consequence for these seeds?

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

Something needs to give- I can’t keep this up….It’s clear.  If I want to mature, I need to take on these thorns.  They can’t continue to thrive, overwhelming and choking the word of God. 

But how to change?  Again, Jesus shed light on how to take on the thorns.

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

They put God’s word first- and everything else followed.  They genuinely wanted to listen- hence the good hearts.  They retained what they learned- implying an active listening, dwelling on these teaching, and then actual application.  Then they kept at it- when they didn’t feel like it, when other things seemed more pressing, when a harvest seemed hopeless.

For me, this will be doing less.  There are some simple things: perhaps less time on the internet- particularly Facebook.  Perhaps less time doing half-hearted efforts at tasks and using the time I have more effectively.  It might also be a few more ‘no’s’- when I choose to invest my time first in my walk with God, and after that with people.  Maybe some ‘no’s’ to overtime, too.  If I’ve made Jesus first in my life, I want to make sure He gets the first say in how I make plans.

I really appreciate that Jesus gave us a practical example of our hearts through a simple example.   

I hope that we can each develop hearts that exemplify the 4^th soil and really experience life to the full.

• What does your heart soil look like?
• Why does Jesus caution us about the thorny soil? 
• What would need to change in your heart and your schedule to have a 4^th soil heart?

Kim Bonner, Geneva, CH