"I'm Turning Over the Soil of Your Heart"

For centuries farmers have heeded a practice called "turning over the soil" when it comes time to plant a new crop. The process of turning over the soil does a number of different things that are important for the health of the new crop that will be planted. Turning over the soil breaks up the old soil and allows air to infiltrate the soil. The new seeds will do much better in soil that is not hardened and crusty. Turning over the soil also taps into the minerals and nutrients that are deep in the ground so that the new plants will have access to what they need to grow and thrive. And last, but not least, turning over the soil will help remove weeds and break up the roots of weeds that would compete with the new seeds you are planting.

This all became of significance to me recently, when in a worship service I felt I heard the Lord say to me, "I'm turning over the soil of your heart". I pressed into what He wanted to say and this is what I heard Him say to me, "I'm turning over the soil in your heart. This process may have sometimes seemed disorienting or confusing, but know that My hand has been at work in your life for good and to bring fulfillment to My promises to you. I am turning over the old soil that has produced a crop, but it's time of fruitfulness is done. The new soil is now on the surface and full of My nutrients and promises for the future. I have planted My seeds and cultivated your soil to be a place of birthing that which is new."

I feel this word is not just for me, but for many in this season. Many times we can become somewhat bewildered at the things we are walking through. We don't always see or know what God is doing in our life. We have been in an unusual transition time in the Body of Christ and now a time of breaking out and breaking through to step into the brand new. The following verses have been on repeat in my spirit for several years now:

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

God has been heralding His message to those who have ears to hear. You haven't missed it. He hasn't given up on you. In many ways, things are just getting started and He has so much more for you as you trust in His goodness.

If you are trying to discern where you are in the process, here are some signposts or insights into the process you may be experiencing so that you can partner and agree with what Holy Spirit is currently doing in your life:

He's breaking up the dry crusty soil of your heart. The difficulty and trauma of this past season caused many to withdraw and harden their hearts. This may have helped painful things not hurt so much, but it also may have dulled your sensitivity to His voice and Spirit. He wants you to feel again, and especially feel JOY again, and for many JOY will be the tool that begins to break up the hardened soil. Ask Holy Spirit to show you the state of your heart with Him, then ask Him to begin to heal the places of pain.

For others, it's just been a long season of tending the same soil over and over. You need the air to make its way in and through your soil again.

"Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere..." Song of Songs 4:16a

Invite the Holy Spirit to blow on the soil of your heart and breathe in the life and refreshment in His wind. As you do this process, know that God is closing the door on many things from the former season, and breaking up the old soil to allow the air in and to make way for the new.

He's removing the weeds and stones that would hinder growth and life. There are things that get planted in the soil of our hearts that shouldn't be there. When we haven't always tended to the condition of our hearts, it can be easy for things to take root there that aren't part of His plan for us. In times of pain or need, if we have looked to things other than Him for our comfort and sustenance, then those things can begin to grow and choke out the true life He has for us.

In the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, Jesus shares about the importance of the health of the soil in which the seed is sown. Seed that is sown on rocky soil or soil with thorns will be hindered from reaching its full potential. "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." Matt. 13:23. In this season, the Father is positioning us to move forward with good soil that will produce an abundant crop.

In John 15:2, Jesus said, "...My Father is the keeper of the vineyard." If you find yourself in that place where "weeds and stones" have taken up residence in the soil of your heart, then allow the keeper of the vineyard, Your Father, to begin the process of removing those things that would hinder your growth and development.

He's releasing the nutrients needed for you to fully thrive. We are in a time of acceleration, growth, and also a time of great revelation. God is releasing exactly what you will need for your season of fruitfulness to occur.

"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word..." Hebrews 1:3a.

Know that He is able to sustain you by the power of His word. He is releasing revelation knowledge that will bring transformation and the grace to embrace the new things He is doing.

The Father is at work, tending to the soil of our hearts in this season. His hands bring healing, life, and beauty to our hearts. As He turns over the soil of our hearts, we can rest in His purposeful work, knowing that His every action towards us carries His grace and fierce love.

"My beloved spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." Song of Songs 2:10-13