For centuries, when it comes time to plant a new crop, farmers have heeded a practice called “turning over the soil.” The process of turning over the soil does a number of different things which are important for the health of the new crop that will be planted. Turning over the soil breaks up the old soil and allows air to infiltrate the soil. The new seeds will do much better in soil that is not hardened and crusty.
Turning over the soil also taps into the minerals and nutrients that are deep in the ground so that the new plants will have access to what they need to grow and thrive. Last but not least, turning over the soil will help remove weeds and break up the roots of weeds that would compete with the new seeds you are planting.
Turning Over the Soil of Your Heart
This all became significant to me while in a worship service recently, when I heard the Lord say, “I’m turning over the soil of your heart.” As I pressed further into what He was saying, I heard, “I’m turning over the soil in your heart. This process may have sometimes seemed disorienting or confusing, but know that My hand has been at work in your life for good, and to bring fulfillment to My promises to you.
“I am turning over the old soil that has produced a crop, but its time of fruitfulness is done. The new soil is now on the surface and full of My nutrients and promises for the future. I have planted My seeds and cultivated your soil to be a place of birthing that which is new.”
I feel this word is not just for me, but for many in this season. Often, we can become somewhat bewildered at the things we are walking through. We don’t always see or know what God is doing in our life. We have been in an unusual time of transition in the Body of Christ, and now we are in a time of breaking out and breaking through to step into the brand new. The following verses have been on repeat in my spirit for several years now:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)
God has been heralding His message to those who have ears to hear. You haven’t missed it. He hasn’t given up on you. In many ways, things are just getting started, and He has so much more for you as you trust in His goodness.
If you are trying to discern where you are in the process, here are some signposts or insights into the process you may be experiencing, so that you can partner and agree with what the Holy Spirit is currently doing in your life:
He’s Breaking Up Dry Soil
God is breaking up the dry crusty soil of your heart. The difficulty and trauma of this past season caused many to withdraw and harden their hearts. This may have helped painful things not hurt so much, but it also may have dulled your sensitivity to His voice and Spirit. He wants you to feel again, and to especially feel JOY again. For many, JOY will be the tool that begins to break up the hardened soil. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the state of your heart with Him, then ask Him to begin to heal the places of pain. (Photo via Unsplash):
For others, it has just been a long season of tending the same soil over and over. You need the air to make its way into and through your soil again.
“Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere…” (Song of Songs 4:16)
Invite the Holy Spirit to blow on the soil of your heart as you breathe in the life and refreshment of His wind. As you do, know that God is closing the door on many things from the former season, and breaking up the old soil to allow the air in and to make way for the new.
He’s Weeding and Pruning
He’s removing the weeds and stones that would hinder growth and life. There are things which get planted in the soil of our hearts that shouldn’t be there. When we haven’t always tended to the condition of our hearts, it can be easy for things to take root that aren’t a part of His plan for us. In times of pain or need, if we have looked to things other than Him for our comfort and sustenance, then those things can begin to grow and choke out the true life He has for us.
In the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, Jesus shares about the importance of the health of the soil in which the seed is sown. Seed that is sown on rocky soil, or soil with thorns, will be hindered from reaching its full potential. “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:23). In this season, the Father is positioning us to move forward with good soil that will produce an abundant crop. (Photo via Unsplash)
In John 15:1, Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.” If you find yourself in that place where weeds and stones have taken up residence in the soil of your heart, then allow the keeper of the vineyard, Your Father, to begin the process of removing those things that would hinder your growth and development.
He’s releasing the nutrients needed for you to fully thrive. We are in a time of acceleration and growth, as well as a time of great revelation. God is releasing exactly what you will need for your season of fruitfulness to occur.
Sustained by the Power of His Word
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word…” (Hebrews 1:3)
Know that He is able to sustain you by the power of His word. He is releasing revelation knowledge that will bring transformation and the grace to embrace the new things He is doing.
The Father is at work, tending to the soil of our hearts in this season. His hands bring healing, life, and beauty to our hearts. As He turns over the soil of our hearts, we can rest in His purposeful work, knowing that His every action toward us carries His grace and fierce love.
“My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.'” (Song of Songs 2:10-13)
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Sylvia Neusch
Sylvia Neusch Ministries
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Website: www.sylvianeusch.com
Sylvia Neusch is a wife, mother, pastor, author, prophetic voice and prophetic blogger. Sylvia operates with an anointing to sense the times and seasons and encourages the Body of Christ in stewarding the current and coming move of God. Through her writing and teaching, Sylvia has a passion to encourage and equip people to discover their true God-given identity and mature in Christ to walk in their God-given destiny. She longs to see the modern-day royal priesthood step more fully into their role of partnering with Heaven through powerful prayers and declarations. Sylvia and her husband, Richard, are the senior leaders of True Life, a non-denominational church in Round Rock, Texas. They are also the founders and overseers of the Austin School of Supernatural Ministry.