Read: Hosea 10:12-13  |

In agriculture, fallow ground is a field left unplanted and unplowed to grow whatever occurs naturally in order to replenish the land and soil. When left in this condition without attention, it grows thorns and weeds. In short, an unattended fallow field is unproductive. Hosea 10:12-13 uses the term “fallow” metaphorically to represent our lives. From the New King James Version, the prophet Hosea instructs us to “…Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, …”. Hosea is urging us to break up the unproductive areas of our hearts and minds not aligned with God’s will.

Fallow areas are the areas of our lives where we do not yield to God’s will consistently. The fallow areas are unproductive because they do not support the growth God intended. Instead, the unproductive areas of our lives inhibit our growth.

Plow up the Fallow Areas

Satan does not lose ground without a fight, thus plowing fallow areas in our lives are difficult. Everyone has his or her own fallow ground. For some it may be lying, pride, pre-marital sex, adultery, swearing, pornography and lust, etc. Yielding to one of these temptations, leads to a sin of commission – a sin committed with knowledge that we are sinning (James 1:14-16). It is easy to fall prey to the habit and comfort of these temptations because they align to what “we” want. However, they are out of alignment with God’s will for our lives.

If we resist plowing up the fallow areas in our lives and turning them over to God, then we are out of alignment with God. He wants us to submit ourselves to him (Romans 10:2-4). The Holy Spirit prompts us submit to Him in order to grow (Ephesians 4:14-16). As we begin to yield to Him, one fallow area after another begins to blossom with a new harvest God intended (Colossians 1:5-7).

For others, our fallow ground may be sins of omission. These sins encompass knowing the right thing to do, but not doing it. This type of sin is hard to spot as a new believer because we are just learning the doctrine/teachings of God. However, as we mature in Christ, the Holy Spirit pricks the heart to remind us of what we “should be doing”.

Whatever type of sin we leave untouched or unplowed in our lives, His Word directs us to plow it up (1 Peter 2:1-3)! We cannot leave fallow ground in our lives once revealed to us, if we truly want to give all of ourselves to him! [Biblical Proportions, Bible Dictionary – Fallow-ground] Plow it up!

“Followship” plows fallowness

Jesus warned against fallowness and demonstrated the proper alignment resulting from “followship” repeatedly with His disciples. Just after Palm Sunday when He had cleared the temple for the second time, Jesus saw in the distance a fig tree. They could see that the tree apparently had leaves and thus should bear fruit, yet it had none. It was barren. The leaves indicated growth, but the lack of fruit indicated fallowness. Jesus cursed the tree for being fruitless.

Steadfastly going to Church, studying the Bible, praying and fellowshipping with believers will grow leaves. However, we extend our faithfulness by bearing fruit. To bear fruit, actively apply the teachings of the Lord day by day. As we practice our faith, then the fallow areas of our lives are exposed. As we continue to yield to Christ and align to His will, our faithfulness plows up the fallowness.

Plow it up!

The fallow ground in our lives present the greatest challenge to fulfilling our true potential in Christ. Pray and allow God to expose the fallow areas. After exposure, repent and submit the area to Christ while seeking the Holy Spirit’s assistance to prick our hearts when we stray.

Our growth begins with Bible Study, prayer and fellowship. It deepens with our “followship” as we submit to Christ, which will eliminate the “Fallow-ship” in our lives!

Questions:
1.Discover –
A. What fallow areas are in your life? Discuss with a prayer partner.
B. Pray and ask God for strength and insight to tackle them one by one.

2.Develop –
A. What fallow areas in your life will be the hardest to break or stop and why?
B. Have you felt the Holy Spirit prick your heart to yield the fallow area to him?
C. Are you willing to trust God and yield the area to Him?

3.Demonstrate –
A. What fallow areas did have in your life when you first became a Christian, but now are easier to overcome.

For me, it was a burning anger when I felt wronged. As a teen, it would give me headaches. After a few years, I ran across the key scripture that freed me from my headaches. In Eph. 4:26 NAS it says “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,”