Today, I’m trying something new to enhance my worship. Drawing has always been a passion of mine, although my patience for it has waned over the years. Inspired by Sacred Pathways and embracing my sensate tendencies, I’m incorporating sketching into my devotional time. These sketches don’t need to be elaborate—stick figures are just fine! It’s about the process of engaging with God in a way that resonates with me.

For today’s devotion, I focused on The Parable of the Sower, also called The Parable of the Soils, found in Matthew 13:1–23. In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a farmer sowing seeds on different types of soil. Here’s a breakdown of the four types:

  • Path: The seed falls on the hard-packed path and is snatched away by the evil one. This represents those who don’t understand the message of the kingdom.
  • Rocky Ground: The seed falls on rocky ground with little soil. It’s received with joy, but the plant withers when hardships come.
  • Thorny Soil: The seed falls among thorns, and the cares of life and deceitfulness of wealth choke it out.
  • Good Soil: The seed falls on good soil, where it grows and produces a harvest—thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was sown.

Jesus explains that the seed represents the Gospel, the sower represents anyone who shares the word, and the soils represent different responses people have to the message.

During my devotional, I sketched a scene of a farmer and his wife in the field, working the soil. In the foreground, I imagined Jesus with His hand outstretched, telling the parable to His followers. Initially, I planned for a large sun, but I replaced it with a big tree, symbolizing the growth that comes from good soil.

This verse, Matthew 13:8, speaks about the seed that falls on good soil, where it thrives and multiplies thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times. It’s a reminder that when we open our hearts to God’s word and allow it to take root, we can experience incredible growth. My sketch reflected this process: planting seeds, tending the soil, and watching God bring about the growth.

Reflection and Questions for You:

  • How does the Parable of the Sower resonate with you today? Which type of soil do you feel your heart is right now?
  • Have you ever tried sketching or another form of art as part of your devotional time? What was that experience like for you?

The beauty of this parable is that it acknowledges both the challenges and the potential of receiving God’s word. Sometimes, we feel like the rocky soil—enthusiastic but easily discouraged. Other times, we’re fertile ground, ready to grow and bear fruit. What matters most is tending to the soil of our hearts and being open to the seed of God’s truth.