Good Ground
God prepares the heart long before the seed is sown.
Devotional Credit: Abide Above
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s reflection from Miles Stanford gently opens our eyes to the mystery of preparation—the often unseen cultivation God does in hearts long before the Word ever reaches them. We may be tempted to focus on the moment of visible transformation, but the Spirit reminds us that the deep work of God often begins in secret, far beneath the surface. Like rich soil that has been patiently tilled, the heart prepared beforehand receives the Word with joy and bears lasting fruit.
J.O. Fraser wisely observed that many times there is a divine groundwork already taking place in a person, family, or even an entire village before the gospel ever arrives. The battle may already be won in the spiritual realm. Our role? To stand in awe, to water with faithful prayer, and to trust that God is preparing the way. And when the Word does come, it doesn't meet resistance—it takes root and blossoms with endurance.
Jesus described such hearts as “good ground”—those who hear, receive, and bear fruit with patience. This kind of soil isn’t accidental. It’s the result of long, hidden preparation, divine orchestration, and the prayers of those who intercede day and night for the formation of Christ in others.
✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I saw you before anyone else did. Before Philip spoke to you, I had already been at work beneath the fig tree. I prepared the soil of your heart long before you recognized My gaze.
So often you plant the Word in others and grow discouraged when it does not bear fruit. But I tell you—do not lose heart. Some ground must be broken up, watered, and sifted for years before it is ready. I am not only Lord of the harvest—I am the One who prepares the ground.
You are not responsible for forcing the fruit. Keep sowing. Keep praying. Keep believing. My Word will not return void. When I prepare a heart, even the gentlest whisper of truth takes root and flourishes. And when I am forming Christ within someone, you may not always see the process—but you can trust Me in the silence.
Pray for them, not once, but again and again. Watch for the quiet signs of turning. Even now, I am sending My messengers to prepare the way. I am the Gardener who works in secret before anything blooms. Trust Me with the timing. In due season, you will see that your labor in Me is never in vain.
Scriptures referenced: John 1:48; Luke 8:8, 15; Malachi 3:1; Galatians 4:19; Philippians 4:19
🪴 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like watching dough rise. At first, it looks as if nothing is happening. You mix the ingredients, knead it patiently, and then cover it and walk away. Hours pass, and suddenly the dough has doubled in size. It wasn’t your constant watching that made it grow—it was the unseen leaven working silently within. So it is with hearts God is preparing.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You for reminding me that You are always working—often in ways I cannot see. I rejoice that You prepare hearts with perfect timing, tilling the soil long before the seed is planted. I trust You to complete the work You’ve begun in those I care about. I rest in the truth that Christ will be formed in them, and I thank You for the privilege of praying and waiting in joyful expectation.