Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?” Mark 4:13 (NLT)
In Mark 4, Jesus told a parable that He said was the key to understanding the rest of His teachings—the story of the farmer scattering seed. This parable has been taught countless times, but if we’re not careful we can miss the stunning truths within it. Today I’m going to focus on one in particular.
God is not the farmer. You are. In other words, you are responsible for what you plant in your heart. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our heart, which means that job is under our control.
Whatever is in your heart is determining your future. It’s deciding who you’ll be, the emotions you’ll consistently experience and even the things you struggle with.
You can pray for a breakthrough, but that’s only part of the equation. The truth is, you won’t harvest what you have not planted. God created a system of seedtime and harvest. Do you want pumpkins? Plant pumpkins. Do you want more joy? Plant His promises of joy.
God cannot trespass on your free will and do the planting for you. The good news is, He has given you everything you need in His Word. As you meditate on His promises and principles, you’re planting His beliefs in your heart. Those seeds will begin to grow peace, joy and purpose in your life.
Today, roll up your sleeves and decide to do the work of a farmer. Cultivate great beliefs about your identity, relationships, money, health and every other area. As you plant the truth in your heart, Holy Spirit goes to work to produce a great harvest!