Jeremiah 4:3-4
“Here’s another Message from GOD to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow your unplowed fields, but then don’t plant weeds in the soil! Yes, circumcise your lives for God’s sake. Plow your unplowed hearts, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem. Prevent fire—the fire of my anger— for once it starts it can’t be put out. Your wicked ways are fuel for the fire.”
“This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the LORD, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.”
Plowing is disruptive. It rakes open and turns over the soil. God uses this as metaphor because his presence should, just so, rake open and upend our lives. It is a bloody and painful process. As the scars heal, we find our perspective changing and it is liberating. The self is a hard taskmaster, but the Lord’s yoke is easy and the burdens he gives light.
Lord, thank you for your gentleness in leading me through the plowing times in my life. May my heart be always devoted to you, willing to undergo the pain of transformation, faithful to the end.