Praying For Soul Soil

Mark 4:1-9 & 14-20 / Matthew 13:1-23

Reading my Bible one day I came across the familiar parable of the Sower and the seed. It occurred to me that praying for the soil of a person’s soul is as important as praying for their salvation. That was such a light bulb moment for me! Now I pray for the soil of their heart to be tilled and fertilized until it is rich and ready to nurture and grow any seeds of truth planted there.

You see, if the soil of someone’s soul is not ready to receive the seeds of truth those seeds will either get consumed by the Satan before they can even be accepted, go in one ear and out the other because there is no depth, or end up being ignored because the seeds get choked out due to the many things vying for the prime real estate of their soul. Sowing seeds in those conditions is not pointless per say, but there will be no lasting fruit born from those efforts. However, the word of God is a living word and will transform and grow in fertile soul soil.

When Jesus walked on earth, he took personal time to sow seeds of truth to those who sought him and whose soul's soil was ready to receive those seeds. He spoke to the masses too, and as he sowed seeds of truth, he never tried to convince his way into their hearts. Quite the contrary, on many occasions the truth is what turned them away because they could not accept it. The soil of their soul was not ready. He often spoke in parables for that very reason. Those who wanted to know; whose soul soil was tilled and ready to receive the seeds of truth, either understood or asked to understand what he said. It set apart those who were truly seeking and those who were just interested in this man, Jesus, who not only fed them, but was creating an upheaval in the traditions they had followed for so long.

Likewise, I want to follow Jesus’ example. Now I pray for the soil of people’s souls. I know when I pray for their soul’s soil to be tilled it will mean some painful realizations and hard moments for them BUT I also know that is what will prepare their souls to receive the seeds of truth they so desperately need. Praying this way has changed the way I respond and talk to people too. Now I gently till their soul’s soil by asking questions or saying things that prepare their heart for the receiving of the seeds of truth planted there.

Keeping the soul soil fertile is an ongoing process of keeping my soul ready to receive seeds of truth. Three simple ways are:

1)    Actively read the word (aka “planting, watering and fertilizing” your soul soil)

2)    Recognize when God is “tilling” your soul soil through trials, learning to trust and obey when it is hard…being challenged to go deeper, maturing you as one of his!!

3)    Go and sin no more or change your behavior as you see God convicting you (aka “weeding your soul soil)

Be encouraged that no matter how hard or depleted the soul soil there is ALWAYS hope if you or someone else desires to allow God to till and enrich your life. I know because I am living proof.

Mark 4:2-9, 14-20

And he (Jesus) taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.