Matthew 13:3-8 “Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 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. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

When you encounter God’s word, whether on a Sunday morning, a Wednesday Bible study, a conference or even just during personal time in the scriptures, the ability for that seed to bring forth fruit in your life is directly proportional to the condition it finds you in being prepared to receive it. Jesus said there are four possibilities: first, that you will be unprepared and the word will be stolen by our adversary the devil. Second, you could receive the word and allow it to make you feel better about your life and your circumstances. Unfortunately, as soon as you are asked to stand on or defend it, you quickly abandon it because suddenly the ‘good feelings’ are gone and the roots are not deep enough to hold. Thirdly, you might hold on tightly to the word but all the cares and worries of the world eventually choke out any joy or hope and the word dies. But if your heart and mind is prepared to receive the Word, understanding beforehand that the word is absolute truth and able to guide you in every circumstance, your blessings and fruit will be multiplied as only our Heavenly Father can!

Pray: “Heavenly Father, prepare me now to be a good student, ready not only to receive but also to believe all your word has to teach me. Help my heart and mind to be good soil, ready at all times to receive what you have to plant into my life. I know if I am good soil, you will create a harvest in my life that even I can’t begin to imagine. I trust you and offer myself a field ready for planting, in Jesus mighty name I pray – Amen