Break Up the Fallow Ground

Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.

─ Hosea 10:12 AMPC

Life can be hard at times. And in the seasons of disappointment, discouragement or pain, most of us find it easier to close up the garden of our hearts and not let anything or anyone in. Without constant cultivation, the ground of the heart can become dry and hard.

In our verse today, Hosea encourages us to look to God, to sow His favor and goodness into our lives by leaning into Him, and to reap the benefits of His great mercy and love. But in order to do that, we’ve got to give some attention to the condition of the heart.

You’ve got to deal with the hardness. Begin to plow in prayer. Then, dig deep and break up the dirt clods you’d rather ignore or forget, addressing the hurts of life with a friend, professional and also, with God. Spend time reading God’s Word, aligning your thoughts to His ways.

Are you ready for a new season in your life? Invite the Holy Spirit to send the refreshing rains as you break up the hard places for new seeds to be planted.

Today’s One Thing

This week you can begin to break up fallow ground

• Plow the field in prayer (start with 5 minutes each morning).
• Break the clods by talking to God about the things you’ve been ignoring that you need to address.
• Sow the Word (read one paragraph in your Bible and think about it throughout your day).

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