Tilling the Soil of the Heart: Scripture..Craig Denison Ministries

 Tilling the Soil of the Heart: Scripture

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This week we'll look at a vital spiritual practice to all those seeking to grow in God: tilling the soil of the heart. Jesus spoke in Matthew 13 of two different types of soil—hard and soft. God longs for us to till the soil of our hearts that we might be receptive to the seed of his word and bear fruit. May your heart become more responsive to the presence, will, and love of God this week as you cultivate good soil with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2

Devotional:

One of the most powerful tools in tilling the soil of our hearts is Scripture. Each time you open the Bible, you’re looking at a miracle. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” When you are reading the Bible, you are reading the very word of God, breathed out by him and powerful in its ability to reveal both the character of God and your identity. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” When you renew your mind through Scripture, you allow the Bible to transform your heart into fertile soil that bears everlasting fruit. So let’s look today at a few ways we can use Scripture to renew our minds and allow it to mold and shape us into disciples who are in tune with and receptive to the love and leading of God.

There is a wealth of power and wisdom within God’s word as it reveals his love and faithfulness to his people. Stories of God's deliverance and provision to an ungrateful people demonstrate not only God's faithfulness then, but also the great lengths he will go to for those ransomed into his family now by the blood of Christ. The story of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins is both heart-wrenching and life-giving. That he would willingly endure one of the most heinous, tortuous methods ever created assures us of the love God has for us. That he would experience separation from his heavenly Father for the sin of the entire world points to the depth of his love for us. Reading stories like these and meditating on their meaning and application will make us receptive to the presence and will of God. They can empower us to live in grateful obedience to his plans and purposes.

As Paul wrote in Second Timothy, the Bible is also a useful tool for life-giving correction. Correction from God is an important and wonderful part of being his son or daughter. His correction resembles a skilled gardener pulling the weeds out of soil, making room for seeds he has planted to receive nourishment and thereby flourish into fruit. You see, God doesn’t correct out of anger or frustration, but rather out of his rich love, patience, and desire for us to walk in the abundant life he’s prepared for us. Proverbs 3:12 states, "The Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." So, opening our hearts to Scripture like Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear,” is incredibly powerful. Pulling out the weeds of corrupting or negative talk will create space in the soil of our hearts for the nourishment of God’s Spirit, yielding the fruit of speech that does indeed “give grace.”

Open your heart today to the power of God’s Word in tilling the soil of your heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you by speaking directly into your life using the words of Scripture. May your time in guided prayer be marked by the inner voice of the Spirit and the transformation of the heart.

Guided Prayer:

1. Ask the Spirit to reveal an area in which you need correction.Think about something in your life that is hurting your ability to develop good soil and, thereby, good fruit. Where are you not experiencing the abundant life Jesus died to give you?

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

2. Now search for Scripture to use for meditation on the subject. If you feel that negative speech is hindering you, a verse like Ephesians 4:29 that we read earlier is a great start. If you feel like lust or another sin is hindering you, search for Scriptures addressing the sin you struggle with.

3. Meditate on the Scripture that you’ve found. Allow God to apply Scripture directly to your life.

When we align ourselves with God’s word, we lose the burden of living life apart from the anointing and filling of his Spirit. Giving up things like negative speech, lust, greed, and other sins creates space for that which brings life and abundance. Today, give over anything you feel is crowding your spiritual life, and allow God to fill you with the grace to live according to his word. His word is the perfect guide through every situation, useful for any occasion. Allow the Spirit to speak to you both through the Bible and directly. Till the soil of your heart to be receptive to all that he would do in and through you today.

Extended Reading: 2 Kings 22-23

What it Means to be “Holy for I Am Holy”..Aretha Grant

 What it Means to be “Holy for I Am Holy”

By Aretha Grant

“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, ‘Be ye holy; for I am holy,’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

What’s meant by “holy” in 1 Peter 1:15-16? The word translated “holy” means sacred, morally blameless, consecrated, saint (see Strong’s G40 for more). God is looking for some people who are consecrated or set apart for His use. And He knows who those holy ones should be because He chose us (Ephesians 1:4) and called us to be holy for His purpose (2 Timothy 1:9).

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4).

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” (2 Timothy 1:9).

The King James Version of 1 Peter 1:15 uses the word “conversation.” The word translated “conversation” means behavior. The verse is saying our manner of life or behavior, should reflect holiness because God is holy.

Our lifestyles should be distinguishable from unbelievers and match our profession of faith. But it’s not easy, is it? In a day and age in which any and everything goes, Christians are constantly facing temptations to live in a manner which isn’t pleasing to God. Although ungodly living is encouraged, embraced, and expected in the world today, God’s Word stands as a beacon of hope, life, and instruction to Christians.

Just because the world says ungodly living is ok doesn’t mean the Lord says it’s ok. The Lord expects us to be holy because He is holy and abides in us.

Jesus Christ is the perfect example of one who walked in holiness. If we look at how He lived and exemplified holiness, we see a life committed to honoring God, showing love, honoring parents, serving others, and keeping the body holy.

Being holy isn’t natural, and it isn’t something we can do under our own strength. Walking in holiness requires the Holy Spirit received when we become “new creations.” When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts, we become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). Holiness is only possible when we are put on the new self and live life as the new creatures God ordained us to be. Although holiness isn’t natural to us, we are instructed in Scripture to follow or pursue holiness.

We should look for opportunities to be holy. Being holy may mean:

• Not listening to the same music as our family and friends or watching the same television programs.
• Holiness may involve changing the way we dress, think, or respond to temptations.
• Most certainly, holiness means being set apart for the Master’s use.

Walking in true holiness means being like our Father.

Revisiting the Right Place..Alexis A. Goring

 Revisiting the Right Place

By Alexis A. Goring

“From one man he made all the people of the world. Now they live all over the earth. He decided exactly when they should live. And he decided exactly where they should live. God did this so that people would seek him. And perhaps they would reach out for him and find him. They would find him even though he is not far from any of us.”- Acts 17:26-27 NIRV

Did you know that the Bible says God determines where we will live? It is a beautiful truth to know that God places us in the right place at the right time, not only because He knows what we need, but because He wants us to find our way to Him. He knows that the people and ministries where He places us are exactly what we need to thrive and to grow close to Him. I have found this to be true.

I grew up in what they call the DMV. It stands for Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia. It’s a beautiful place to live and the capital of the United States of America is nestled in the center. I know the convenience of taking the Metro Rail into D.C. or driving less than 30 minutes to spend time in Annapolis and shop in one of my favorite malls. I also appreciate the fact that the gorgeous City of Alexandria (Virginia) is only a short drive away on the beltway. I like being able to be in the country as quickly as I could be in the nearby city. The DMV, in all of its beauty, diversity, and wonderful places, is where I call home. 

But around my early teen years, I started to feel like I needed to try something new. I wanted to expand my horizons. I felt like my life had been mapped out for me and I craved the adventure  of seeing new places. I wanted to continue my education elsewhere. But around that time, God had birthed my devotional writing ministry and I realized that God had me exactly where He wanted me to be. He confirmed that I was already in the right place at the right time. As I attended the high school and then the college that my parents recommended, I began to see what God had in mind. Then I didn’t want to leave, even when there were opportunities to continue my education elsewhere. 

Looking back on those years, I see clearly that the Christian private schools I attended gave me  the Bible-based education for the work I do today. The classes helped solidify my faith in God and I gave my life to Jesus Christ at age 15. The following year, God brought me through a major health crisis and helped me heal. When I was well enough to return to school, I had a whole new appreciation for life and a fire for wanting everyone to know Jesus Christ. This is when my devotional writing ministry began. As I moved on to a Christian college, I learned from some of the best professors and connected with great classmates. Together, we experienced the goodness of God. 

A few years later, God led me to join a congregation where I felt the Holy Spirit moving. The preacher was dynamic and did a great job leading us into a closer relationship with Christ. It was founded as a Bible study a few years before I joined and grew so much so that they had to stop meeting in a home and instead rent out a high school on the weekend. After they outgrew the high school, they realized they needed to call a pastor to better lead them. On the first Sabbath of our pastor preaching to us in the church we were renting, more than 700 people attended! Online broadcasts drew people from other states as they witnessed young adults on fire for the Lord and wanted to be a part of it. Later, when the doors to our own building opened, more than 1,100 people came to our first church service—leaving standing room only! The move of God was and still is real. I am grateful to be part of this ministry. 

Through those years, even when I felt restless and ready for a change, God showed me that He placed me in the DMV area for a reason. I am grateful that He’s used the people, places and ministries here to support me and shape me into the person He’s called me to be. I am thankful that He’s helped me grow closer to Him through it all and for the encouragement I’ve received from His people. Most of all, I am grateful that God knows what He’s doing. He truly is our Father who knows best with our best interest at heart.

Will there be a time when God calls me to move out of the DMV? Only God knows. Will I go where God leads me? Definitely! But for now, I know I am in the right place at the right time, thankful for His leading and provision.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

Have you ever felt restless and ready for a new adventure? How does knowing that God determines where you will live, impact your life?

Further Reading:

Jeremiah 29:11
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 20:24
Psalm 37:23-24

A Prayer to Delight Yourself in the Lord..Victoria Riollano

 A Prayer to Delight Yourself in the Lord

By Victoria Riollano

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

I have to be honest. There are many things that bring me delight. The sound of a baby’s laugh. The gritty feeling of sand under my feet at a bright blue beach. A warm hug from one of my children. The words, “I love you,” as they flow from the lips of my husband.

The smell of fresh brownies, the sound of my favorite worship band, and seeing long-lost friends can create moments of intense joy. The truth is, I have mastered the art of finding happiness in everyday external pleasures. Yet, when I first read the words “Delight yourself in the Lord,” I was met with unexpected questions. What does it mean to find delight or extreme excitement as it concerns the Lord?

If I can be honest, for many years, how I viewed the Lord at any given moment was based on my external circumstances. When things were going well, I was thrilled to brag about Him and tell others about His goodness. Yet, when things were more difficult and my expectations weren’t met, I wondered where the Lord was in this situation. Did He not see my peril or care about my struggles? In these moments, when I lost loved ones, when sickness struck my home, when friends were no longer friends, year after year, I made the choice to no longer delight.

After years of choosing to have joy in the Lord, only when He was following my lead the Lord brought conviction. My ways were like a child who loved a parent only when it was convenient. As a mother, this broke my heart as I realized the error of being a Christian who used God for his blessings but rejected Him when corrections or even trials arose. This is not delighting in the Lord.

Today, my prayer for you is that you find your joy in the Lord. No matter what the situation looks like around you, you make the choice to run to Him. I have found over and over that when we choose to love the Lord not for what He can do or is doing in our lives but for the essence of who He is, we can’t help but delight in Him. He is the one who gave us breath in our bodies. He is the one who knows our thoughts and who has a plan for our lives. He is the one who died for us that we may have eternal life. The Lord is a constant, our comfort, and though He is majestic enough to put the stars in the sky, He calls us friends. This, my friend, should bring us unspeakable joy.

Let’s pray.

Lord, I thank You for who You are. I praise Your wonderful works. For You are the Creator of all, yet so intimately near. Forgive me for the times that I’ve made You an afterthought. Teach me to come to You with the humility and joy of a child. God, convict me when I become more excited about worldly pleasures than following Your will. Father, I delight in You. Help me to never forget just how good You are. May I delight in You all the days of my life! In Jesus' name, amen.