Monday, 29 January 2024 Alexandra Priddy,

Again Jesus began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land.  He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:  ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil.  And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away.  Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.  Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’  And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’

Reflection

These familiar Bible verses speak to the ability to receive and take in God’s word.  At worst, we don’t take in HIS teachings for various reasons but at best we digest it and it grows within us.

For this reflection, I’m going to draw a parallel between this parable and the ability to have strong steadfast faith.   As I write this I’m being tested to exercise my faith, as I care for a much loved family member as they recover from an operation and, God willing, return to good health.

I liken the seeds the birds took away to when my faith dissipates and I have doubts or get distracted.  In these times, my focus is on negative things, I start to doubt the very God that can make ALL things possible and I let the volume of the negative overpower the joyful music of the positive.

I liken the seeds on the rocky ground and also the seeds that grew amongst the thorns to when my faith is not very deep; when at the first sign of trouble I speak words of doubt. In these times, I let my fear take over.  The thorns in the verse represent  when I let other voices or beliefs choke what I know to be true.. that my God is faithful.  I forget what HE has already brought me through and that I have had doubts before, only for God to come through.  

Best of all though is when my faith is strong, confident, consistent and loud; this is akin to when the seeds fall on good soil.  In these wonderful times, I feel and see nothing but God’s promises; I am hopeful, I speak words of faith and I take every opportunity to express a strong living faith. 

I often wonder why I let the fear, negativity and doubt take over.  It is a bad habit that at times, I struggle to break; but I like to think that with every challenge, my faith is renewed and strengthened.

Prayer 

Father help us to grow in faith day by day, challenge by challenge
Allow us the confidence to share with others, the good you are doing in our lives
Inject positivity into our lives, dimming the negative and amplifying the positive 
Teach us to experience growth as we travel through life’s experiences  
Helping us become more hopeful and confident with each passing day Amen