Devotions from Judy’s heart
The Bible is the most important book ever written and it has power to change us and transform our lives. It is our daily nourishment and our guidebook to show us how to live.  If we embrace the Word and practice what we read, mountains would be moved.  We can’t even imagine the luscious spiritual fruit that would result! Our hearts are like the soil in a garden and when the seed of the Word falls on our soil, we’d like to say our soil is always good but I for one, cannot say that. Perhaps we can find ourselves in all 4 soils but at different times. Jesus told His disciples the meaning of the 4 soils in Luke 8:11-15. The seed that fell on the road are those that hear the Word but Satan snatches it away. Maybe we have sat through church but never really heard and took to heart the message because we were preoccupied. Or like the rocky gravel soil, we heard and got excited about what God was saying; but then things got hard, we lacked faith to continue to persevere and believe. Or like thorny weedy soil we remain immature because the cares and anxieties of the world crowd out the seed. Of course, the seed in the good soil is when we listen to the Word and hold on patiently no matter what the cost, until we see fruit. I loved living in Brunswick and from my study window of the parsonage, I looked out on a field and beautiful woods. The Senior group helped me plant a large garden and most every day I took some time to weed it. Sometimes the bunnies would be in and out of the rows as well. The farmers came often to inspect my garden and said I had the cleanest garden in the county but it was because I loved to be out there in the sunshine and surrounding beauty. If I neglected to weed, even for a short time, it would become obvious and the plants would fail to thrive. We need to take care of the weeds in our spiritual gardens and uproot whatever hinders our growth. To have good soil we need to internalize the Word, let it challenge us and instruct us, guide and encourage us, and convict and teach us. May we attentively take care of the soil of our hearts.
Challenge for today: Spend some time letting the Word sink deeply into the soil of your garden.
Blessings on  your day and prayers and love, Judy