Blog Post
Posted by Dion Todd March 14th, 2025 943 Views 29 Comments
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, Reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; For it is time to seek Yahweh, Until He comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 WEB.
I grew up on a farm, and over the long cold winter, the ground of the fields would become so hard that water would just run off of it like a rock. The rain would not penetrate the crust but just run through its cracks. When spring came, we would have to plow it with a tractor and break it all up to get it ready to plant. We would then plant the seed, the rain would come, and later we would get a harvest. Each year we had to do this to see a harvest. Without hard work, there was no reward. Only weeds would grow in the field.
Left alone, our hearts will become as hard as a rock. Life happens. You add a little hurt here, another disappointment there, someone lies to you again, and soon a bigger wall goes up to protect us. We can become cynical and add another layer of protection to our little shells. If the rain does come, it will run off, leaving us dry and bare because our hearts have grown hard and calloused from use and abuse.
I had a rough upbringing. There was a time in my life when I could count everyone I cared about on one hand and still have a couple of fingers left. No one hurt me anymore because they were already an enemy when I met them. Yet, God didn't leave me like that. For even though I had no interest in people, as I tried to grow closer to Jesus, He began to peel those layers off of me like an onion. Slowly He opened me up, and eventually, I could show love and be loved. It was something I had never known before I met Him. He loved me too much to leave me like I was.
In ancient Palestine, farming was a bit different than today. They scattered the seed first, then plowed it into the ground. Think of the parable that Jesus told of the sower in Matthew 13:3. You hear the word of God, then we plow it into our ground by doing it. He will then take care of everything else and provide the rain, the nutrients, and the sunshine to make it grow. Working together with Him, we bring forth a harvest.
God can heal a hardened heart if you let Him, but we often hold Him at a distance. We don't really trust Him. Yet, we have to work with Him to advance. He gives us a word, and we break up the ground by doing what He told us, then He provides the rain. We study, He reveals something new, we then try and live it, and there is a reward. The rain that comes from being in the Lord's presence and His word will soften our hearts over time, make them grow, and begin to heal.
Seek the Lord and His presence, and don't let your heart become cold and hard. Spend a little time talking to Him each day and cultivate a relationship. There can't be a harvest until the ground is made ready, and many fields have sat unchanged for decades.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly and give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Please help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Today is "Feel Good Friday" at the FAAD (Fight Against Anxiety & Depression) group! On this day, we uplift each other with posts of encouragement and joy! All are welcome to join and participate! As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.
Post from Jackie Tipton
1 hour ago
Amen ā¤ļø š
Post from Valeri Frank
10 hours ago
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to break down these walls I have put up around myself... I've tried to protect myself from the people who hurt me. I just need to remember to always seek You out and to lean on You. You are the Light of the world. Please remind me when I need to turn to You instead of closing myself off from the rest of the world. I want to follow Your Love Light wherever it leads me. You are the reason for life. You are my God. In Jesus Name I Pray... Amen šš¼
Post from Scott Riegelmann
3 hours ago
Amen, Thank you Father for doing what needs to be done in my HEART so I can GROW and become more like Jesus and his Holy Spirit In Jesus' name I pray AMEN!!
Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly and give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Please help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! ā¤ļøš¤š»
I have read many, many of your devotions and you have mentioned your abusive upbringing several times. I know you know you are not alone. I, too, grew up terribly abused until I spoke out at age 15. I just want to say PRAISE GOD for taking something that was intended for bad and using it for good! As He has with me as well! Thank you for sharing your deep pain, that Iām sure now God has brought you to healing, and using it to reach out to others in pain as well! God bless you!
Amen Lord
Post from Raju Williams
7 hours ago
Amen.šš
Post from Sherry Mccosh
13 hours ago
Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly and give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Please help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! I was not getting the emails for more than a week but I just started getting them again today so thank you very much. I love all of these devotions and messages they are good for the soul and always gives me things I need to think about. God bless you Pastor Dion and Sylvia!!!
Post from Wanda Pennington
7 hours ago
Heavenly Father, please guide me and reveal the things that I need to change. Show me the next step clearly and give me the grace to do whatever is needed. Please help me break up the pieces of my life that have hardened, and send Your rain. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Today is "Feel Good Friday" at
Good morning, fam, praying you have a fantastically blessed Friday! ššš»
Comment from Lynn Brown
8 hours ago
You too, Sylvia & Pastor Dion!šš©·
Post from Kevin J. Eck
8 hours ago
Heavenly Father, I am not a perfect Man, But with your Grace and Protection. Help me to Live your promises of Unending Love, Your unwavering Presence, Peace and Comfort, Rest and Relief, Promises of Forgiveness , Cleansing, Provision and Strength! I feel I am asking for a lot, but you are a Mighty God! In our Lord's Precious Name, Jesus, Amen.
Post from Matt Wisniewski
8 hours ago
Amen thank you , Lord knows I've still alot to change. And help me understand your grace for me because there's things I still can't seem to forgive of my old self ā¤ļøā¦ļøšāļøāļø
Heavenly Father Please Help Guide Me And reveal The Things I Need To Change In My Life Amen Good Morning Everyone š
I pray that I can change the things I need to change. With Your help, I can do all things! Amen. Happy Friday RHM!š
Yes Father, Please show me the things that I need to change and give me the grace and guidance to do what is needed to make those changes. Amen!
Post from Theresa Bright
9 hours ago
Amen šš» thank you Lord.
Post from Liberty Brock
9 hours ago
Thank you Father God! Amen!
Post from Gloria Nebarez
9 hours ago
Yes Lord loosen up the hard peices of my life in Jesus name I pray, thank you Jesus.
Post from Marisa Jackson
9 hours ago
Amenšā¤ļøā¤ļøš!!
Amen
Post from Schalk de Beer
13 hours ago
Yes my Lord and Father, I pray this in Jesus's mighty name, amen. āļøš
Post from Bella Colliander
13 hours ago
Yes, Heavenly Father, give me the grace to do whatever is needed and send Your rain. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!ššļøThank you Pastor Dion for lifting my spiritš
Yes Amen
Amen
Post from Elena Vasquez
11 hours ago
Amen
Post from Celeste Strenn
11 hours ago
Oh yes please Amenā£ļø
Post from Barbara Jackson
12 hours ago
Amenš
Post from Kay Collinsworth
12 hours ago
Amen