PREPARING THE HEART FOR FRUIT

Confession does for the soul what preparing the land does for the field.  Before the farmer sows the seed he works the acreage, removing the rocks and pulling up the stumps.  He knows that seed grows better if the land is prepared.  Confession is the act of inviting God to walk the acreage of our hearts.  "There is a rock of greed over here Father, I can't budge it.  And that tree of guilt near the fence?  Its roots are long and deep.  And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed?"

And so the Father and the Son walk the field together; digging and pulling, preparing the heart for fruit. Confession invites the Father to work the soil of the soul.

-- Max Lucado in In the Grip of Grace

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