Heart Matters
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12
“Break up your fallow ground.” What is your fallow ground? What is that thing the LORD has been bringing up before you, insisting that it is now time for it to be gone from your life? In what area of your life has He intensified His call for you to walk in obedience to Him? Are you ready to allow Him to purge the thorns and thistles which have remained in your life up until now?
While it is true that our LORD is a long-suffering GOD, there comes a time, in His perfect timing, when He declares enough is enough. He has decided to move you forward in your spiritual growth and maturity, but first there are some things that simply gotta go!
In the Scripture above, the biblical principle of reaping and sowing is once again used to illustrate how blessings from the LORD will follow when we obey His will. In order to reap and sow, one must have ground on which to do so. The Israelites are told by the LORD to break up their fallow ground. There is ground to be had that isn’t being used. Fallow ground is land designated for rest in order to make it perfectly suitable for next seasons’ crops. When the ground is allowed to recuperate, the minerals and nutrients have time to replenish in the soil, increasing the possibility of a fruitful and bountiful harvest. But fallow ground is temporarily barren land. While the land lays stagnant, the weeds, thorns, and thistles take root and can eventually begin to take over. The farmer knows the first thing he must do is break up that fallow ground. He must cultivate the land by breaking, pulling, uprooting and removing all which is not conducive to the growth of the new seeds he’s planning to sow. That is, if he expects to successfully reap a harvest. Once the soil has been primed, and the seeds have been planted, he will only need to wait for the rains to come and water the land.
There comes a time or season when the LORD is ready to move us forward and make us more fruitful. He will cease being patient and silent regarding specific sins and strongholds. He will call us to action-He wants us to agree with Him about the areas that need to be broken up and to ask Him to give us the strength to do so. It’s a necessary work which has to be done in order to prepare us for the rain the LORD desires to pour out on us. The LORD purges us to bless and move us further into our purpose for Him.
There are blessings the LORD has for His own which He’s holding back until some much-needed work is done. It’s not a matter of working to be right with God. It’s a matter of obeying God so we can operate in the righteousness He has for us. Remember The real work has already been done on the Cross.
So what is your fallow ground? Is it a relationship that doesn’t glorify The LORD? Is it a matter of forgiveness? Is it a sin your guilt and shame has kept you from confessing? Is it a stronghold which keeps you from truly repenting? It can be so many things we struggle with: legalism, laziness, self-pity, self-righteousness, a judgmental spirit, etc. Things which, until they are gone, nothing more can grow. The LORD knows what they are and He knows what it is He is presently calling us to. When He begins telling us about it, then it’s time to break up that fallow ground. Once it is accomplished, we can expect to be renewed and refreshed! He will rain His righteousness upon us andshower us with His blessings. He will cause us to grow so we can be fruitful and multiply for His kingdom. It’s really too good to miss out on!
Are you listening intently for the voice of God? What has He been speaking to you lately? The LORD usually confirms what He says-over and over again. Will you agree with whatever HE is calling you to do? Just know if you do so, He will give you the strength to do it, and then He will bless you for it. It will be worth it every single time!
HEART TO HEART: THE LORD PURGES OUR LIVES TO PREPARE US FOR OUR PURPOSE!