WEBVTT 00:04.290 --> 00:13.074 [SPEAKER_01]: This week, we'll look at a vital spiritual practice for all those seeking to grow in God, telling the soil of the heart. 00:14.115 --> 00:19.658 [SPEAKER_01]: Jesus spoke in Matthew 13 of two different types of soil, hard and soft. 00:20.560 --> 00:28.588 [SPEAKER_01]: God longs for us to tell the soil of our hearts that we might be receptive to the seed of his word and bare fruit. 00:29.549 --> 00:40.140 [SPEAKER_01]: 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. 00:40.821 --> 00:41.641 [SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to the 00:55.271 --> 01:17.436 [SPEAKER_01]: Our verse for today comes from Matthew 13, verse 23, Scripture says, 01:21.437 --> 01:23.859 [SPEAKER_01]: as for what was sound on good soil. 01:24.600 --> 01:28.223 [SPEAKER_01]: This is the one who hears the word and understands it. 01:29.184 --> 01:37.931 [SPEAKER_01]: He indeed bears fruit and yields in one case, a hundredfold, in another 60 and in another 30. 01:38.231 --> 01:44.996 [SPEAKER_01]: Matthew 13 verses 22 and 23 says, 01:49.926 --> 02:02.764 [SPEAKER_01]: As for what was shown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world in the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 02:04.087 --> 02:06.168 [SPEAKER_01]: as for what was shown on good soil. 02:06.729 --> 02:10.231 [SPEAKER_01]: This is the one who hears the word and understands it. 02:11.172 --> 02:20.017 [SPEAKER_01]: He indeed bears fruit and yields in one case 100fold, in another 60, and in another 30. 02:23.039 --> 02:29.203 [SPEAKER_01]: The concept of good and bad soil is something Jesus listeners would have understood well. 02:30.390 --> 02:35.754 [SPEAKER_01]: Planting in good or bad soil meant having food or going hungry. 02:36.615 --> 02:38.776 [SPEAKER_01]: It meant having money or not. 02:39.677 --> 02:43.780 [SPEAKER_01]: For their agrarian culture, it was a matter of survival. 02:45.522 --> 02:54.048 [SPEAKER_01]: While Jesus' parable may not have as direct a correlation to us, its principle remains just as relevant. 02:54.909 --> 02:57.030 [SPEAKER_01]: We all have spiritual soil. 02:58.197 --> 03:07.842 [SPEAKER_01]: Through our mindsets and postures of the heart, we can receive the seed of God's Word, which will in turn yield the life-giving fruit. 03:08.963 --> 03:17.327 [SPEAKER_01]: Or, we can allow the soil of our hearts to make us unreceptive to the powerful work of God in our lives. 03:19.048 --> 03:25.552 [SPEAKER_01]: It's incredibly important for us to understand that God never forces His desires on us. 03:26.837 --> 03:32.340 [SPEAKER_01]: He waits patiently, back ining us to open our hearts fully to Him. 03:33.541 --> 03:35.362 [SPEAKER_01]: He gently shows us His love. 03:36.483 --> 03:43.307 [SPEAKER_01]: Whispers His perfect plans to us, and waits for us to trust and surrender. 03:44.888 --> 03:52.372 [SPEAKER_01]: With the grace of God, we can till the soil of our hearts, living receptively and surrendered 03:57.068 --> 04:10.011 [SPEAKER_01]: If we will cultivate a willing heart, God will mold and shape us into children free from the cares of the world, and empowered to live Christ like fruitful lives. 04:11.952 --> 04:14.733 [SPEAKER_01]: Take time today to assess your own life. 04:15.973 --> 04:18.714 [SPEAKER_01]: What parts of your heart are hard to God? 04:20.114 --> 04:23.355 [SPEAKER_01]: Where do you feel unresceptive to His goodness? 04:24.758 --> 04:29.780 [SPEAKER_01]: Where do you need to say yes to God today in a fresh, transformative way? 04:31.381 --> 04:40.125 [SPEAKER_01]: God is calling you to a lifestyle of trust and surrender that he might lead you to green pastures and still waters. 04:41.845 --> 04:47.148 [SPEAKER_01]: There is abundant life for you in store this week as you cultivate good soil. 04:48.296 --> 04:56.796 [SPEAKER_01]: May the Holy Spirit help you look honestly at the posture of your heart today as you enter into a time of guided prayer. 05:25.237 --> 05:37.667 [SPEAKER_01]: as we begin, take some time to receive God's presence, open your heart to feel the peace and rest that comes from encountering Him. 05:39.609 --> 05:40.390 [SPEAKER_01]: Exodus 3314 says, 06:28.885 --> 06:29.245 [SPEAKER_01]: next. 06:31.067 --> 06:36.690 [SPEAKER_01]: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you ways in which you aren't fully open to God. 06:38.792 --> 06:41.293 [SPEAKER_01]: How are you not fully saying yes to God? 06:42.874 --> 06:47.697 [SPEAKER_01]: In what ways are you living your life apart from the leadership and presence of God? 06:49.378 --> 06:50.819 [SPEAKER_01]: Where don't you fully trust him? 06:52.440 --> 06:54.021 [SPEAKER_01]: Where aren't you bearing the fruit 06:57.072 --> 07:20.112 [SPEAKER_01]: Galatians 5 verses 22 through 23 says, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law. 08:00.436 --> 08:12.024 [SPEAKER_01]: In last, confess those things to God, receive His love and forgiveness as you repent and turn away from hardness of heart. 08:13.605 --> 08:19.950 [SPEAKER_01]: Spend time resting in God's presence and experiencing the new found peace that comes from 08:25.328 --> 08:37.610 [SPEAKER_01]: First John one nine says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 09:18.488 --> 09:23.310 [SPEAKER_01]: Tilling our hearts into good soil is an important daily exercise. 09:24.351 --> 09:29.533 [SPEAKER_01]: The more often you do it, the more you'll realize the need to have good soil. 09:30.833 --> 09:36.236 [SPEAKER_01]: Having our hearts fully open to God takes the mundane and makes it wonderful. 09:37.156 --> 09:42.619 [SPEAKER_01]: It takes sunsets, conversations, prayers, work, and church 09:49.096 --> 09:58.785 [SPEAKER_01]: Take what you've learned today and continue to put it into practice, choose to live a life positioned to receive all that God has in store for you. 10:00.186 --> 10:03.610 [SPEAKER_01]: May your day be marked by the fruit of the Spirit. 10:34.686 --> 10:37.669 [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 10:38.109 --> 10:39.610 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Josh with first 15. 10:40.351 --> 10:51.460 [SPEAKER_01]: As we begin this week-long focus on telling the soil of our hearts, take time today to simply assess how receptive you are to the things of God throughout your day today. 10:52.261 --> 11:01.609 [SPEAKER_01]: Don't focus on changing anything, but simply notice whether you are receptive or closed off, whether your heart feels hard or open. 11:02.349 --> 11:07.372 [SPEAKER_01]: and bring that sense of awareness with you back to this rhythm of meeting with God tomorrow. 11:08.353 --> 11:14.376 [SPEAKER_01]: If you haven't already, make sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating or review. 11:15.057 --> 11:15.877 [SPEAKER_01]: Thanks so much. 11:16.418 --> 11:20.460 [SPEAKER_01]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.