1) Cultivate an open mind- Stop being so stinking resistant ! Stop acting like you are tough and don't need God..we all do and He needs us. Be receptive, stay eager and cooperative. Have a mindset that is wide and far reaching, not narrow, hardened and trampled on.
Having hard soil is having a closed mind. Pride and fear feed the hardened heart. Pride is when we think that we are tough and can do it all by ourselves. Prayer is not important. Fear is being afraid to hear God speak. He may be try to get our attention, but we shut him out.
"Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." JAMES 1:21 NLT
Bitterness keeps our minds and heart closed. It is holding on to hurt, resentment, grudges. It is offensive to God and all the love he has for us.
Unforgiveness is a self -inflicted wound. When we forgive another or a situation, we are the ones who are truly blessed.
“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.”
2) Take time to listen - Hurry makes it so we cant hear God. When we slow down, we can hear him. God speaks to us in so many different ways. Turn off the chatter in your mind and tune in to the quiet and stillness of your soul...Can you hear him say how awesome you are and how much he wants to be in your life ?
Having a shallow soil is like living superficially. We are touched by something or maybe a sermon heard in church , but nothing changes. We don't give anything time to sink in or to change in our lives. We may be stirred a bit in church, a meeting or a good talk with someone, then we are off and running concerned about our own agendas and our own fast pace in life.
3) Eliminate distractions - the bottom line is that we cannot hear God when our mind is distracted with other things. We are always on the go - but are we really going someplace? Our soil is full of weeds.
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10.
Our God is our refuge and strength. Look at your life and see where you can eliminate distractions that keep you from hearing him.
4) Cooperate with what God says to you - I hear what God says. I remember what he told me. I obey what he says, and I persist until I bear fruit and see change come to my life.
Keep your mind willing. Keep your soil good. God wants us to be successful with family, marriage, fiances, friendships and spiritual growth. He wants us to have emotional, physical, and relational success. He wants our cooperation with him so that he can give to us. He want us to share with others the joy in our lives. We cant keep it unless we give it away.
Slow down, stop the racing and running - Be still and know that he is God.
