Devotional

The Sower’s Prayer (Matthew 13:10-17)

Best-selling author and professor, Leonard Sweet, teaches that a story is EPIC: experiential; participatory; image-rich; and connective. In essence, a story engages the heart.

Jesus taught in parables, so regardless of one’s heart condition, He would have the opportunity to germinate the seed that was sown (see Matthew 13:10-17). A Rabbi would share his most secretive teachings only with those who grew closest to him. Thus, the parables represented a teaching method for all four heart conditions Jesus described in His Parable of the Sower: hard, shallow, thorny, or soft. Jesus preached: “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 hearts and turn, and I would heal them” (Matthew 13:15). Otherwise, better translated, perhaps, meant that each of the heart conditions could turn to Christ who would heal, or forgive, them (cf. Mark 4:12).

If life’s experiences have left you with an unfruitful heart, whether hard, shallow, or thorny, in Christ you can receive a soft, fruitful one. Each day during the next week, pray:

The Sower’s Prayer
When my heart is hard,
 Help me to sow.
Where my heart is shallow,
Help me to grow.
Whatever my heart’s thorns,
Help me let go.
The Sower Answers:
Listen to me speak, I knock at your door.
Seek me, find me, I will give you more.
Loosen your grip, return to me, I will restore.
When your heart is open, into your life holy rain I will pour.