Mark 4:13-20 - "Start A Fire In Me"

I was reminded this morning about the seeds that we sow in life.  The parable of the sower in Mark 4 shares the different types of circumstances involved with seeds.  As I looked at this picture I thought about how it’s not only the ground seeds fall upon that are important but also the seeds we allow to fall upon us.  What seeds do I allow to take root in me?  What seeds do I nurture in my spiritual life?  What seeds does the Lord plant in me that I ignore?  How can I be a better gardener with the seeds He plants in me?  I think the key is to start each and every day with Him.  Another key is to pray for more of Him and less of me.  That is the only way I truly will have the seeds He desires in me to flourish.  In the physical aspect of life, I am not a gardener.  But in the spiritual aspect of life, I need to be the best gardener I can be through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  As good seeds are put in my life, I need to nurture them.  When bad seeds fall into my life, I need the discernment from the Holy Spirit so that I may remove them before they take root.  As I take on this role in my spiritual life, I will see more fruit grow from me.  Seeds...good seeds...fruit...woo hoo!  Yes!  

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for this incite this morning.  Father, I pray for more of You and less of me in order to be the best gardener possible.  Lord, sow the good seeds in me and give me discernment when bad seeds come my way.  Lord, enable me to nurture the good seeds.  Father, I pray for an abundance of fruit to grow from the seeds You plant in me.  I get the Holy Spirit goosebumps just thinking about the possibilities!  Woo hoo!  Oh my…I am so excited this morning, I can hardly stand it.  As I am basking in Your presence, Lord, the song "Start A Fire In Me" comes to my lips.  Woo hoo!  Yes, Lord, Yes!  I pray for "...a fire in my soul…Fan the flame and make it grow…"  I pray "That everyone around can see That it's You, that it's You that we need…"  Lord, You planted new seeds in me this morning and for that I am so grateful!  Lord, wherever You lead me today, I pray You will be seen in me.  Whatever task You put before me, give me direction on how best to accomplish it.  Thank You Jesus for being My Gardener.  Amen.