30 March

David, in the midst of all his troubles, suffering and persecution, turns to the Lord as his personal Saviour: ‘my saviour’ (v.22). You may or may not be facing the extreme difficulties David faced, but you can still follow this pattern today:

• Ask
  Cry out for help: ‘I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God. For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips”’ (vv.15–16).
• Confess
  Confess your sin: ‘I’m ready to tell my story of failure, I’m no longer smug in my sin’ (v.18, MSG).
• Trust
  ‘For in you, O Lord, do I hope’ (v.15, AMP). Trust God to save you: ‘O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Saviour’ (vv.21–22).

Jesus then describes what they are all doing in terms of the parable of the sower. They, like us, are all sowing the seed of the word of God (v.11). Don’t be disappointed if not everyone responds equally:

• Hard-hearted
  Some won’t believe: ‘The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved’ (v.12, MSG).
• Faint-hearted
  Others seem to respond very enthusiastically, but it does not last. They have ‘no root’. They ‘hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone’ (v.13, MSG).
• Half-hearted
  Still others seem to be very responsive but later they drop out due to ‘the thorns of life’: ‘anxieties’, ‘cares’, ‘riches’, and ‘pleasures’ (v.14, AMP). ‘These are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun’ (v.14, MSG).
• Whole-hearted
  The first three categories lead to great disappointment and sadness. However, Jesus says some will be responsive and ‘steadily bring forth fruit with patience’ (v.15, AMP). Or as The Message puts it: ‘These are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest (v.15, MSG). Earlier he had said that this crop might reap ‘a hundred times more than was sown’ (v.8).