“Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. He did not speak much of what was needed to preach well, but much of praying well. To know how to speak to God is more important than knowing how to speak to man. Not power with men, but power with God is the first thing. Jesus loves to teach us how to pray.”
Andrew murray, with christ in the school of prayer, p. 13.
Share a Comment: Consider sharing a comment in the box below with something God is showing you either about fasting, prayer, or making room in your heart – as an encouragement to others.
Daily Devotionals: As we step into this next season in the life of our church, we are asking the Lord to help us “Make Room in our Hearts” – for the people Jesus loves, and the people Jesus brings. During these 21 Days, our whole church will be reflecting and meditating on these same thoughts and prayers together, with one mind, guided by and depending on one Spirit.
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Engage the Word: Making Room in Our Hearts
Read Matthew 13:18-23
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Connect the Heart
Jesus uses the familiar picture of soil and seed to illustrate how different heart conditions (different conditions of soil) respond to hearing the truth of the Kingdom of God (the seed being sown).
What is sometimes overlooked in this parable is that, if we are willing to extend Jesus’ analogy of soil and seeds a bit further, unsuitable soil conditions can be worked over and turned into suitable soil. The packed soil of the path can be broken apart and turned over. The rocky soil can be cleared of rocks. And, applicable for this devotion, the crowding thorns can be uprooted to make room for good seed to take root and grow.
The heart condition in the thorny soil is simply too crowded for the truth to blossom. “The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word.”
We might protest: Are not the cares of the world the very practical things which so naturally concern us? Does not everyone need some level of worldly riches in order to provide for our basic needs?
Jesus says that the practical concerns which preoccupy us are only practical on a worldly sense, and that the pursuit of riches is deceitful… a distracting mirage of which we waste our time and energy in pursuit.
Let’s take a moment to hear the word and examine where it sheds the helpful light of conviction. Does the word, the living truth of God’s Kingdom, have room to grow, flourish, and multiply in our hearts? Are the practicalities of God’s Kingdom competing for nourishing attention with incompatible priorities from the world?
Reflect on the Truth
- What is a practicality of the world which is taking up a lot of room in your heart?
- The Word may be growing well is some areas of your heart, but what would need to change in your heart in order for the soil conditions to be improved so that your life can yield more truth?
Depend on the Spirit
The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ is the One who can break up and overturn soil, remove rocks, and uproot thorns. Give Him permission now to do work.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the deeper longings, desires or motives in your heart that these thoughts are pointing to. (For example: you may write down, “Lord, I truly desire that the soil of my heart be fertile for spiritual nourishment and genuine spiritual growth. I’m not able to do this on my own. Can you help me?”) The Lord can help us discern the path forward – through His Word, His Spirit, and His people.
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For Prayer
It can be scary to think about the Holy Spirit making changes in our heart. Does it hurt to have thorns uprooted? Are we comfortable with the rocks? Will the shovel blade cause us pain as it breaks up hard soil? Ask Jesus these questions and listen for His comforting presence. Share His joy with others as you anticipate the abundant harvest He has planned for you!
Fasting
Please read the first blog post entitled “Why Fast?” This explains what fasting is and why we follow Jesus in this spiritual discipline as together we seek the heart of God.
Previous Posts
To read yesterday’s blog post devotional, please click here.
To read our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting Introduction, please click here.
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Some parts of our 21 Days devotionals are adapted using various resources on scripture and prayer like The Bible Exposition Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, The New Bible Commentary, Logos Bible Software and other resources.
Share a Comment: Consider sharing a comment in the box below with something God is showing you either about fasting, prayer, or making room in your heart – as an encouragement to others.
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