Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
This is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done-burn with no one to quench it.”
– Jeremiah 4:3-4
Devotion
The second picture that Jeremiah uses is “fallow ground”. Fallow ground is land that has been left untilled for a season. While lying fallow, the ground hardens over. Although fallow gives the impression that the field is just neutral, the truth is that weeds and thistles will grow up through the hard ground without any assistance. Therefore, when the farmer decides to plant, he must break up the hardened soil and remove any weeds that may have sprouted up during the time the land remained untilled. Like fallow ground, the hearts of God’s people had become hardened and unreceptive to His Word.
The Big Question
Whether through Jeremiah or Jesus, each of us is challenged to examine the receptivity and soil quality of our own heart. Perhaps at an earlier time of life our heart was more tender and responsive to God’s Word. Now we have allowed weeds to infest our view of Him and His heart for the world. We don’t long for Him and have receptive ears that hear and a heart that responds like before. What must we do to break up the “fallow ground” in our own hearts? What weeds need to be pulled up by the roots, so that, we can experience the joy of our salvation?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what God revealed to you today.