Hosea 10:12
"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes and showers righteousness on you." (NIV)
Last year, we focused on Harvest in the Basket, encouraging us to share the good news of Jesus with those in our communities who need hope. This year, I sense that our focus needs to be on preparation—on getting ready for the work God wants to do in and through us.
Breaking new ground requires effort. It means clearing away what is old, repenting where we’ve grown complacent, and making space for God’s transformative power. The prophet Hosea used this imagery to challenge Israel, and I believe it’s a powerful call for us today. We must be willing to soften our hearts, remove distractions, and create fertile soil for the Spirit’s work.
Fallow ground is land that has been left unplanted for too long—it becomes hard, resistant, and unfruitful. Spiritually, this happens when we neglect certain areas of our faith. Disappointment, sin, or simple complacency can make parts of our hearts resistant to the Spirit’s movement.
To break up fallow ground means actively inviting God into those places. It’s about renewing our commitment to prayer, stepping out in faith, and allowing God to do something new in us. While this process can be uncomfortable, it is necessary for growth.
We’re already seeing many exciting examples of breaking new ground:
All of these initiatives reflect a willingness to step into new territory, trusting that God is leading the way.
It starts with a willingness to listen to God’s invitation. Ask yourself:
For some, it might mean developing a habit of daily prayer or Scripture reading. For others, it could involve stepping into a new ministry, sharing faith more boldly, or seeking reconciliation in relationships.
Breaking new ground isn’t just about doing more—it’s about preparing ourselves for God’s work and trusting Him to bring about the growth.
My prayer is that we would be a people prepared for what God wants to do. That we would respond to His call to soften our hearts, remove barriers, and make room for His Spirit to move.
"Lord, thank You for calling us to break the fallow ground in our hearts. We confess that sometimes we’ve allowed our hearts to grow hard or complacent, but we long for Your renewal. Help us seek You with all our hearts so that You may shower us with Your righteousness and love. We trust that as we step out in faith this year, You will bring forth new growth, and we will reap the fruit of a deeper, more intimate relationship with You. Prepare us for the harvest, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
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We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Hosea 10:12
"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes and showers righteousness on you." (NIV)
Last year, we focused on Harvest in the Basket, encouraging us to share the good news of Jesus with those in our communities who need hope. This year, I sense that our focus needs to be on preparation—on getting ready for the work God wants to do in and through us.
Breaking new ground requires effort. It means clearing away what is old, repenting where we’ve grown complacent, and making space for God’s transformative power. The prophet Hosea used this imagery to challenge Israel, and I believe it’s a powerful call for us today. We must be willing to soften our hearts, remove distractions, and create fertile soil for the Spirit’s work.
Fallow ground is land that has been left unplanted for too long—it becomes hard, resistant, and unfruitful. Spiritually, this happens when we neglect certain areas of our faith. Disappointment, sin, or simple complacency can make parts of our hearts resistant to the Spirit’s movement.
To break up fallow ground means actively inviting God into those places. It’s about renewing our commitment to prayer, stepping out in faith, and allowing God to do something new in us. While this process can be uncomfortable, it is necessary for growth.
We’re already seeing many exciting examples of breaking new ground:
All of these initiatives reflect a willingness to step into new territory, trusting that God is leading the way.
It starts with a willingness to listen to God’s invitation. Ask yourself:
For some, it might mean developing a habit of daily prayer or Scripture reading. For others, it could involve stepping into a new ministry, sharing faith more boldly, or seeking reconciliation in relationships.
Breaking new ground isn’t just about doing more—it’s about preparing ourselves for God’s work and trusting Him to bring about the growth.
My prayer is that we would be a people prepared for what God wants to do. That we would respond to His call to soften our hearts, remove barriers, and make room for His Spirit to move.
"Lord, thank You for calling us to break the fallow ground in our hearts. We confess that sometimes we’ve allowed our hearts to grow hard or complacent, but we long for Your renewal. Help us seek You with all our hearts so that You may shower us with Your righteousness and love. We trust that as we step out in faith this year, You will bring forth new growth, and we will reap the fruit of a deeper, more intimate relationship with You. Prepare us for the harvest, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
