My wife decided she wanted to plant a flower garden at our home one season. She wanted to plant the prettiest, most colorful flowers that our money could buy. After spending an unbelievable amount of money on these seeds we were set for the chore at hand. We figured out where we wanted the flowers located. What flowers would go where to compliment each other. Then I went 
ahead and started sowing the seeds. After months had gone by, we didn't find any plants sprouting up. I was confused because I knew where I planted them. I even marked the area.
                                      
Being from New York City I finally realized that I didn't know what I was doing.  I thought that the reason they didn't grow was because I had just sprinkled them on the ground and they must've blown away.  This was what I considered a "duh!"  I found my way back to the garden center and purchased some more seed without the knowledge of my wife.  After all, if I told her my suspicions, it would be like admitting that I failed.  She just might have decided to get in contact with someone who actually knew what they were doing, and that could make me "look bad." 

                                      

I came back and decided to dig many small holes in the ground, all in rows.  I was so proud.  "I finally got this thing down. It's not that hard!"  I thought.  By the end of the week I noticed that some small plants had begun to sprout up. "I did it!"  I said proudly to myself.  A few days later I went outside again to check on my precious plants and my jaw dropped.  Many of the plants had dried up and withered away..."What is going on?" I asked myself out loud.  At this time an elderly man came over to me with what I considered to be a pitiful looking smile on his face. I would find out that pity was actually directed at me.  This gentleman knew I had not the slightest idea of what I was doing.  "What's the problem?" he asked, as if he didn't already know.
                                      
I proceeded to tell him my woes which were also being aggravated by my wife's impatience.  She had really gotten on my last nerve due to her constant nagging over the delay of the simple project.  After patiently listening to all my gripes, the gentleman spoke out.  He said: "The problem is this soil you have here, my friend!  This soil is composed mostly of clay and gravel.  You won't ever get anything good to grow here."  He proceeded to instruct me in the proper things I would have to do in order to finally have this project show its fruit.  "You have to get rich potting soil for this.  If you want it level with the ground you must first dig out this bad soil.  It will take you some time because this soil is mostly rock and you are going to dig down at least 2 to 3 feet in order to get down to the softer soil.  You need to prepare the ground so that when you finally plant these seeds, they will take good root to the soil.  This will allow these flowers to grow to the best of their ability, for their roots will be dug in deep!"
                            
A good analogy of how the Word works in lives today.

                                     
Matthew 13:3-9 
states as follows: 

And he spake many things unto them in parables,
saying, "Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:  Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:   And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.   And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.   Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
                                    
We all know the seed Jesus was talking about is the
Word of God.  Where does this Word take up residence
in us?  The answer is  clear in Psalms 119:

Verse 9 states: "Wherewith shall a young man cleanse
his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy
word."

Verse 11: "Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That
I might not sin against thee."
                                         
His Word resides in our heart. Psalms 119 deals
specifically with how important His Word is for our
survival.  Jesus stated in  Matthew 4:4  "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
                                    
Many times we hear a man or woman of God speak the
living Word which is always powerful, and never comes back void.  Some will leave the same way they came in, spiritually crippled.  Some will get some edification from the Word, and some will be touched 
in a life-changing way.  What happened?  How could the
Word of God be different if they were all sitting in the same room?  The Word wasn't different, brethren. It was the soil that it was being sowed into that was different. Some heard it and like the first example, the Word just fell up against their hearts.  "That's true but it doesn't apply to me!" they say.  Some like the second example, take in that seed and they sprout up quickly, but it dries up and whiters away, because the "soil," their heart 
basically consists of clay and gravel.  They haven't
taken the time to "prepare the soil."  So its roots aren't deep enough to keep it alive.  Others take in that Word and are changed beyond measure.  They go out and start being doers of the Word, not only hearers.  Because their soil was well prepared.  Their heart was soft enough to receive the Word of God.  It was prepared by constant prayer, reading of the Bible, and being willing to hear His Word and act on it.
                                   
Father, I come to You in Jesus' name. I ask that You
help me to better prepare my soil for when Your seed
is sown in my heart.   That You would soften it so that Your Word would be able to dig in and anchor itself deep within me, taking up good root.  I pray that when You open the doors for me to witness to others their hearts would be prepared to receive Your Word. Father, I thank You for Your Word that gives us life, for Your
plan of salvation that gives us all the opportunity to
receive eternal life. I thank You for the love You have deposited in me.  The love so abundant, I can't keep it to myself but have to share it with others.  Father, I ask that You help me die to myself more and more each day, so that there would be much more of Jesus in me for the world to see.  I ask that You reveal Yourself to them through me so that they may also reap the benefit of salvation that I have received, by Your grace, through my faith in the perfect sacrifice of Your Son.  This I ask in Jesus' name, amen.
                                      
Please remember, brethren. Every work that is worthwhile, takes time to develop.  It doesn't happen
overnight.  Be patient.  It may take but a few weeks to grow a good squash, but it takes centuries to grow a strong oak tree.  I believe God is growing oaks.

God bless you all.


In His service,

Joe Acosta.