The Soils
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Prayer Trail Devotional
Find the Cedarbrook Pryer Trail or adapt for an outdoor place that is convient for you.
Begin by seeing and hearing, listening and observing. To do this best start in silence both you and your phone. What do you notice when you look out at the land, what about up in the sky, and when you look down at the path? What do you hear, the wind, birds, your footsteps? Keep walking to the first platform titled The Path.
The Path
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. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
When soil is packed down into a walking path seeds cannot grow roots because the soil is too hard and there is nothing to protect the seeds from birds coming to eat them. This means when we only hear the words of Jesus it leaves an opportunity for the Devil to come and take away the truth from our hearts and we won’t understand Jesus’ message. If we can’t understand it, we can’t apply it to our lives and be saved.
Pray that your heart will be softened to receive the words of Jesus.
(Continue to pray as you make your way slowly to the next platform titled The Rocks)
The Rocks
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
The seeds that fall on the rocky ground can develop roots; however, those roots will not grow very deep. The plant will wither when the hot sun beats down on it. This means that receiving the words of Jesus is not enough. You may really like hearing the Good News of Jesus and hearing of His love and forgiveness but the troubles in life and the personal attacks by others cause you to shrink away from living the new life you received.
Pray that you don’t just receive the words immediately but that you will allow them to affect your whole life
(Continue to pray as you make your way slowly to the next platform titled The Thorns)
The Thorns
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Thorns are a problem for any farmer or gardener. If the seeds you want to grow are choked out by thorns, then the plant will not grow. This means that the thorns of worry choke off the growth of Jesus’ words in your heart.
Pray that the worries and concerns of life don’t choke out Jesus’ words
(Continue to pray as you make your way slowly to the next platform titled The Good Soil)
The Good Soil
The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Good soil allows the roots to grow deep to withstand the times of drought and supplies nutrients to the plant so it can produce fruit. In the same way a heart that hears and understands Jesus words of truth can persevere any hardship, overcome any worry, and grow to maturity producing good things for you and others.
Pray that God’s Word grows in you and continues to produce fruitfulness in your life.
Ask Jesus to reveal how you can be fruitful and produce the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
(Continue to pray as you make your way slowly back down the Prayer Trail and take your prayer into the rest of your day)
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