Ron's Insights 2013

Guard Your Heart 

(Part #5 -- Good, Rich Productive Soil)

by Ron Susek

©Golden Quill Publication

Keep [guard] your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV

      My dad had developed the largest landscape/nursery business in our part of Pennsylvania. Growing up, my two sisters and I took our dad for granted, but the community revered him as wise and trustworthy.

      During my teen years I worked with my dad on the crew that established shrubs and lawns, usually for new homes. I noticed that every time we finished a job my dad would stand by the truck as though giving his final inspection. I thought he was just admiring a job well-done. On one occasion, however, upon hearing him speak at a Christian Business Mens' Association (CBMC) dinner meeting, I discovered that he was actually praying. His prayer went something like this:  

Dear Heavenly Father:

My work is now done. My men and I have loosened the ground, shaped the topography, and added top soil where it was needed. We raked the stones, threw them away and pulverized the soil. We carefully raked peat moss and lime into the ground followed by fertilizer. We have spread the seed, raked it gently into the soil and covered it with straw.  I have told the owners to water the lawn morning and evening for the next six weeks. Lord, I have done all that I can do. Now, only you can give this family a beautiful lawn. I ask you to do this in Jesus' name, amen.

      The same process is the key to developing a heart that is pleasing to God. Jesus said that when the seed (the Word of God) lands on good soil it produces a harvest 100 fold strong. But first there is much work we must be doing to prepare good soil in our hearts to receive the seed of the Word of God.

      As we have seen in the four previous issues of FaithWalk the first steps are our responsibility as the guards and caretakers of our hearts: Loosen any hardness, toss out every stone and burn every thorn bush. Then it is time to pray and ask God to do what only He can do; that being to produce eternal fruit.1

      Be a strong guard and good husbandman of your heart for the glory of God. Out of it flow the issues of life.

Immanuel: God is with you!

Your friend,

Ron

¹Matthew 13:1-23 ESV