Here to HearSample

DAY 7
Written by Sara Batista

A fruitful life. Isn't that what we all want? I think that today's passage is teaching us that the devil can come and lie to us about what a fruitful life should look like. These lies cause us to be distracted and desire things that this world offers, but it’s always things that never truly satisfy our hearts.

I want a fruitful life. I want to see God's goodness, love, and peace, and I want to be joyful. I've been thinking about the concept of joy. I think joy is when we find full satisfaction in God, and that becomes our strength in this life—because no one can ever take God away from you. “For out of him, the sustainer of everything, came everything, and now everything finds fulfillment in him. May all the praise and honor be given to him forever! Amen!” (Romans 11:36).

The seed God wants to plant in your life is the reality of Who He is and the message of His Kingdom. The devil doesn't want that to happen. I've experienced the devil's schemes in my life. I'd hear the truth and I'd feel God's love but somehow my life didn't look joyful. Somehow, I still felt sad or empty at times. Today's passage in the Parable of the Sower hit deep for me in my heart. It highlighted two things the enemy wants: for us to worry and for us to chase things/wealth. Now, I'm not going to lie: I would like to be wealthy. But God is saying that money isn't going to make us happy.

So, how do we allow the seeds that God plants in our life to grow? Well, Matthew 13:23 is the key here. God's message about seed falling on good soil looks like someone who truly hears God’s words and understands them. So, the key is understanding. Understanding is the action and reality of wisdom (Job 28:28, Proverbs 2:6). Basically, if you understand how real God's love is for you it will change the way you act, and it will change who you are. So how can our generation be fruitful? By knowing God loves us and realizing that the enemy only wants us to be distracted and doubt Who God says He is. If the devil can have you focused on everything the world has to offer you, you will miss the beauty of what God has for you.

Pray this prayer with us today:

God, I want to see You change my life. I want to know what a joyful and fruitful life looks like. I want to know You. You are pure; You are real; and You love me. Let Your truth grow in my heart and change me from within. Heal my heart from any brokenness I feel. I rebuke the devil’s schemes in Jesus' name. Make something beautiful out of me. Take my messiness, my addictions, my anxiety, my sadness, and let me find satisfaction in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.