Very often we speak of this fruitful life we desire but we don't quite know how to start. Let me bring your attention to 2 Peter 1:3-9.
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Practicing these 7 qualities is one way to approach it. However, for that to happen we must be able to plant the seeds we require to grow the fruits. Are our hearts in good condition? Our hearts are where the seeds will grow. They are the soil to begin with and plowing is required to soften the ground.
I said, 'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.' (Hosea 10:12 NLT)
Plowing of hard ground means doing something uncomfortable that will stretch your faith. After you have worked on one field, God will move you to the next weed-infested plot. That is when you have to go after the roots, dig deep and exercise persistence. The key is not to give up and trust God even when it's taking longer than expected to see results.
Time to break a sweat.
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