A Heart If Tested...

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

[Matthew 13:5-6, NIV]

After Jesus Christ told the parable of the sower [Matthew 5: 1-8], He took out time to explain the meaning to His disciples. We still find this parable applicable in our lives today. Jesus explains that the one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

Those on the rock accept the word, but with a shallow faith. These are those who hear a word that seem specific to their situation, they receive it with joy but in their privacy, they wonder if the word is true, if it is effective, or they do not know the implications of the word. It is not until they face trials that their faith is revealed. Many Christians buckle when their faith is tested.

You may have decided to stand on a word of God and it appears that word of God is being tested. In your walk with God, your faith will be tested. If your heart is not rooted deeply in the word of God, you could almost give up your walk with God.

Are you in a situation where the Word of God you received is being tested? Is your walk with God feeling like mere religion without roots? Do you have convictions that hinder you from letting the Word of God dwell richly in you? It is time, in humility, to break up your soil and remove the rocks. It is time to let go of anything that will hinder you from experiencing the power in the Word of God. Walking away from your Loving Father is not the solution. Let us pray. 

Prayer: My Loving Father, search my heart and reveal to me if there is any area I have hardened to believing Your Word because of disappointments, personal convictions or trials. Help me to work on the soil of my heart to remove those rocks that are hindering me from truly believing and receiving Your word. Lead me to those who will encourage me and pray with me should I find myself in trying situations. May I not buckle under trial but let the testing of my faith develop perseverance. May this perseverance finish its work so that I may be mature and complete, as You desire, not lacking anything. Thank You, My Loving Father, for Your grace is sufficient for me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

A Heart Like The Pathway

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up

[Matthew 13:4, NIV]

A sower went out to sow his seed in the field, just as Jesus continually pours out his word to us in the world today using various media; such that the word is not scarce. The state of one's heart represents the soil or type of ground on which the word of God falls. The state of one's heart determines the level of reception to God's word and hence, the productivity of the word in yielding results. It is possible for a person to constantly portray characters of a particular state of mind in everything he/she does. It is also possible for a person to have differing states of mind on different subjects of his/her life.

As the sower sowed, some seed fell on the path, representing soil that has been trodden by countless feet, so that it has become condensed, consolidated and hard. Such soil has no permeability, it has become hardened. If a single grain of corn should fall on it and grow, it will be as great a wonder as of grain growing in the street. The seed which lies on the path remains exposed till it gets crushed by another passerby, or till the birds swoop down to swallow it up, leaving nothing behind with the hope of germination.

The hardened heart is one on which worldly wisdom and ideologies have impressed upon so hard, every softness or sensitivity to the word of God is expunged, and their remains no room for truth to abide. It is a heart with constant inclination to negate the truth of God's love towards it. Jesus describes this heart as one which cannot understand. It form's the 'hearer's only'. The word of God may catch its fancy, in which case it will ponder over it and possibly discuss it for a while, but along comes the enemy or other worldly amusement and immediately the word of God that was heard becomes history, never to be remembered. The many factors waiting to eat up the word of God from this person include jeering friends, mocking family, forgetfulness from the devil or other pleasures. At the point of hearing the word of God, there may be a decision to go home, kneel beside the bed and pray about the topic, but right on the way home, the decision is forgotten and the commitment never to be remembered, it had been snatched by birds of the air along the way.

For anyone with a heart that is not permeable to God, which cannot understand how the word of God translates to any form of truth, there is help available to plough the land of your heart and make room for understanding of the Truth. Tears cannot soften such hardened earth, but a loving God has provided the blood of Jesus to soak and cultivate your heart. Invite the blood of Jesus to soften the material of your heart that the truth of God's word will abide in you and produce result. This indeed applies to all of us, that at no point should our hearts be found hard against the word of God, at times in ignorance. Let us pray.

Prayer: Dear God of love, I submit my heart to you without trying to justify my actions. I know my effort cannot change my perception and reception of your truth so I invite you to soak my heart with the precious blood of Jesus today. Create in me a new heart that receives and retains your word alone. Give me understanding of what you say to me my father. Let heavenly results sprout from my actions in life and let your name be forever praised because of me in Jesus name, Amen.

Power In Agreement

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

[Matthew 18:19-20, NIV]

The Prayer of Agreement is one of the types of prayers found in the bible. Jesus is telling you that if you join with another, in agreement, that thing which you are praying for will be done for you by God. When you and someone else come together in His name, He will be with you. If Jesus is with us, that means that He is agreeing also. So in effect He is also praying with you. This is a very powerful prayer.

In marriage, the prayer of agreement is very important. When a man and wife agree on something in the name of Jesus, it will be done for them. Sometimes, one of the spouse may be in agreement by mouth but not in agreement in the heart. This could lead to unanswered prayers. For the prayer of agreement to have effect, it must be something that you all are in agreement on. If you are praying for a third party (interceding on their behalf) they must also be in agreement with you.

Are you believing God for something for yourself or another person?  Confirm the will of God from His precious promises in His word. Find someone to agree with - a prayer partner, a friend or a man of God. Jesus Christ has promised that when two of you agree on that thing, it will be done for you by Your Loving Father.

Prayer: My Loving Father, thank You for Your great and precious promises, including the promise of answered prayers. For every prayer of agreement I have prayed in the past, I now know that they have been answered. I pray that I find Your will concerning whatever I ask. Knowing that there is power in the prayer of agreement, help me to find someone who will truly stand in agreement with me as I make my requests known to You. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.