Nurturing the Soil of Your Heart for Personal Growth and Healing

It all comes down to the attitude of our hearts. That’s why the Lord so often compares our hearts to soil. The condition of the soil determines whether a seed will grow, thrive, and bear fruit. Unprepared soil makes it unlikely the seed will survive, and even if it does, its ongoing care will determine if it blooms and produces fruit.

In my garden this year, I planted four tomato plants in the ground and three patio tomato plants in pots. All were watered, fed, and bathed in sunlight. All grew tall. All flowered. But not all produced fruit. One produced nothing, one just a few, and one only a single tomato. The small potted plants, however, produced well—even though they endured a little trauma when the wind knocked them over and spilled some soil.

What made the difference? The potted plants had fresh, new soil. The garden soil, though stable, wasn’t as rich.

As I reflected on Proverbs 15, I realized we can be just like those tomato plants. We “sit in our gardens,” drawing from church, teaching videos, worship music, and the Word itself. We blossom. But sometimes we never bear the fruit of real transformation. Our character doesn’t change. We circle the same issues. We bud but never produce.

I’ve seen people — and been that person — who get so close to bearing fruit in their calling, but stop short. Sometimes it’s because we resist instruction or can’t receive correction. Past wounds twist loving guidance into criticism. Pride hardens the heart and blocks revelation. We justify ourselves, feel “misunderstood,” and walk away — not realizing we’re walking away from what the Lord is doing to make us fruitful.

The essential element is surrender. Embracing correction, if we permit it, creates space for life to flourish.

Humility and surrender open the door to revelation and to His glory. I asked the Lord why I don’t consistently experience more of His presence, and I sensed Him showing me: it’s because I don’t consistently live surrendered.

Prayer: Father, continue to work in us both the will and the ability to do Your good pleasure. Shape our hearts to be teachable, secure in Your love, and willing to receive correction as a gift. Cultivate in us the fruit of consistency. Amen