Year of the Bull

Unshakable praise plows through the hardest ground.  When the ground is hard, when the circumstances are adverse, God’s favor is on the one who will lead off with praise. Fallow ground will break up.  Declare the plow of praise will cut through ungiving earth and make a way for the good seed of the Word to be planted. Chuck Pierce

Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground. Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. Hosea 10:11-12

We see a picture of a bull hard at work in a field, plowing through very hard ground. Hard ground speaks of difficult circumstances, like the situation facing us in 2009. However, the harder we plow, the more the fallow ground breaks up, and the more fertile the soil becomes for seed to grow.

Our hearts are like hard ground, always stubborn, always seeking to go its own way. The Scripture says that the heart is deceitful beyond all cure, who can understand it? Oh, that our hearts would be inclined to follow God’s commandments, that it may go well with us and our children!

The year of the bull speaks of a time of plowing, but who is the Farmer? It is our Lord Jesus Christ! “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30

When we let Jesus take charge, when He is the driver, we will begin to see results. We start seeing the fallow ground of our hearts breaking up, becoming softer, fertile, and ready for growth. In doing the work Jesus’ way, we can find rest even in our work, and our yoke is indeed easier, and our burdens lighter day by day. 

Jesus says “Follow Me!” As we start off 2009, let us start plowing and continue working, seeking the Lord, praising Him, facing every difficult circumstance with hope and faith, trusting Him to bring us through! Jesus said “No one who comes to me will I turn away” This is a year of growth, a year of learning and becoming stronger. Let us persevere and bear much fruit as we remain in Jesus Christ!  God bless, Jason