Break Up the Fallow Ground
Daily Rays of Hope #73
A Message Based on Jeremiah 4:3 (NIV)
"This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: 'Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.'" – Jeremiah 4:3 (NIV)
There are seasons in life where dreams lie dormant and promises seem distant. Ideas God once whispered to your heart may feel buried under the dust of discouragement or delay. But Jeremiah 4:3 is a divine wake-up call. God is saying, “Prepare the soil of your heart again. Clear away the weeds of doubt. Break up the fallow ground, because I’m not done with you yet.”
Fallow ground represents areas in our lives we’ve left untouched, forgotten, or deemed unfruitful. But the Lord is calling us to return to those places in faith, knowing that He does not lie and He does not forget.
Numbers 23:19 declares, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” The very nature of God is faithfulness. When He plants a promise, He watches over it to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). No matter how long it’s been, no matter how impossible it seems—God’s Word will not return void.
Isaiah 55:11 assures us, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” If God gave you a word, a vision, or a dream—He intends for it to bear fruit. But the ground of your heart must be ready.
Sometimes, it’s not that God hasn’t moved—it’s that we stopped preparing. Maybe we gave up. Maybe we got distracted. Maybe we let the thorns of fear, comparison, or unbelief take over. But God, in His mercy, is calling us back to trust.
Jesus, our Risen King, modeled trust in the Father—even to the cross. And because He rose in victory, every promise of God is now “Yes and Amen” in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20). His resurrection power still works today, breathing life into the barren places of your soul.
Three Practical Ways to Break the Ground and Walk This Out Daily:
Return to the Vision God Gave You
Revisit your journals. Dust off that old idea. Ask the Lord to renew your perspective and give fresh strategy. What was once “fallow” may just need your faith again.Speak Life Over What Looks Dead
Instead of rehearsing doubt, declare God’s Word. Speak scriptures like Isaiah 55:11 or Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” Your words have power—use them to cultivate the soil of hope.Sow Obedience, Not Excuses
Every day, do one small thing in alignment with the promise. Make the call. Send the email. Write the page. Pray the prayer. God multiplies even mustard-seed faith.
Closing Encouragement:
The same God who spoke worlds into being has spoken promises over your life. Trust Him again. Break up the fallow ground. Get ready—your harvest is on the way.