Hard Work

January 11th – Ezekiel 36:26

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Ezekiel 36:26

This new year, one of my projects is turning a stony, weedy, patch of my yard into a flower garden where bees and butterflies can thrive. But before anything can grow, some hard work has to be done. Rocks need to be removed, weeds need to be pulled, and the ground needs to be tilled. All done to uncover the rich, nourishing soil beneath. It’s messy, tiring work. And at times it feels easier just to leave the ground the way it is. But without that preparation, nothing healthy will take root.

That’s the way it is when it comes to our hearts. God gently but faithfully works on the hardened places within us. He breaks up what is stubborn, rebellious, and unfruitful. God takes our hearts of stone, and begins to soften them in His hands. The result is a heart moldable and ready to reflect the likeness of Jesus. The work required to create a garden is hard, but the beauty makes every effort worthwhile. In the same way, producing a fruitful harvest for the Lord doesn’t happen without hard, sometimes uncomfortable work. Yet when our hearts are willing to be shaped, softened, and renewed by Him, the beauty that grows from it is truly remarkable.

Reflection Question:
What hardened or weedy areas of your heart might God be inviting you to surrender so He can soften, renew, and bring new life?

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, take my heart and do the work only You can do. Remove what is hard, crowded, or unfruitful, and replace it with a heart that is soft, willing, and alive in You. Shape me so my life produces beauty and fruit that honors You.

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September 30th – Proverbs 6:8

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Proverbs 6:8

As believers, we know not to be anxious about the future. But God also warns us against being foolish and lazy. Throughout the book of Proverbs, we are told the value of hard work. Because hard work can often be the difference between success and failure. Look at the ants. Without needing to be told what to do, or having to be supervised, they get busy at the work at hand. They are called wise because they plan ahead. The ants work diligently in the summer, gathering their winter supply in the harvest. This toil protects themselves and their families from starvation during hard times. Solomon tells us, a wise man understands the value of hard work, for “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” (Prov. 14:23) There is no more rewarding work than the work we do for God. Because not only are ensuring blessings for today, but storing up wonderful riches in the bank of heaven!

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