January will soon be a page turned in a calendar and a memory of another opportunity of set intentions to live our best life. As I was reflecting on the first month of the New Year I was reminded how quickly a moment or day can destroy our intentions. My intentions are like many; eat less and move more, put away the sugar and pick up the vegetable, worry less and pray without ceasing, silence the television and turn the pages of a book. All small behavior modifications that yield good fruit in our lives. If I eat less and move more my body will respond. If I put away the sugar and pick up the vegetable, not only will my body respond, I will overcome an addiction that keeps me bound. If I worry less and pray more I release anxiety and fear while stepping into a deeper relationship with my Lord. If I silence the television and turn the pages of a book my mind is sharpened and creativity is born. Small changes that cultivate good soil enabling the right conditions for growth.
It made me think about Jesus and The Parable of the Sower:
“3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:3-9
What was the difference of the good soil? The good soil was cultivated and tended to allowing right conditions for the seed (in this case The Gospel) to take root and flourish. Our intentions and goals are attainable when we first allow our Lord to cultivate the soil of our heart, soul and mind. If left to self-motivation our intentions and goals fall along the path of life and life begins living us versus us living life.
Which brings me back to my focus for 2023 – DISCIPLINE!
When we exercise Spiritual Disciplines (prayer, service, fasting, study of scripture, etc.) we pick the right behavior and motivation for change will take root. Spiritual Disciplines tills the soil of our heart, digs out the stumbling blocks on our path, and cultivates the right conditions for growth and transformation! Now that’s a discipline that produces a life of abundant living and bears much fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven! #ihopeyoudance #spiritualdisciplines #discipline #2023 #goodsoil #abundantlife