This post is 1 of a 6 part series on faith: 1) We have a Heart Problem, 2) Palm Sunday-The Love of Jesus, 3) Easter-Believing in Jesus, 4) What happens next?, 5) Being a New Believer, and 6) Patience in Growth

4 minute read 
by Bethany Rees

Grow Good Soil: A Word for New Believers

If you've just started your journey with Jesus—welcome. You’ve planted the most important seed of all: faith in Him.

But planting a seed is just the beginning.
What happens next?
What grows depends on the soil.

Jesus told a powerful story in Mark 4 called the parable of the sower. In it, a farmer scatters seeds—each one representing God's truth. But not all the seeds grow the same way. Why?
Because the condition of the soil (our hearts) matters.

Let’s walk through what Jesus taught—and how we can pray to be the kind of soil that helps our faith take root and flourish.

🌱 The Path — A Heart That’s Easily Snatched

“As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up... Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.” —Mark 4:4,15

Sometimes, our hearts feel like a beaten-down path. Life has been hard, we’re not sure what to believe, and before God’s Word can even sink in, it’s gone—snatched by distractions, doubts, or the devil himself.

Let’s pray:
God, soften our hearts. Keep us alert to the schemes of the enemy who wants to steal the truth before it settles. Help us guard what You plant in us, and protect us with the power of Your Spirit.

🌵 The Rocky Ground — A Heart With No Root

“Some fell on rocky places... it sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow... but... when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” —Mark 4:5,17

Maybe you’ve felt the high of a fresh start with Jesus—then the low of reality hitting. Life gets tough. People misunderstand your faith. And you wonder, Is this even worth it?

Let’s pray:
Lord, give us deep roots. When life is painful, anchor us in Your love and truth. Help us grow strong beneath the surface—so storms don’t shake us. Teach us to lean on You, not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard.

🌾 The Thorns — A Heart Distracted by “More”

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word...” —Mark 4:18-19

This might be the most common soil of all in our culture. We’re surrounded by noise. Notifications. Temptations. Pressure to perform, to prove, to chase more. The Word of God gets squeezed out.

Let’s pray:
Father, free us from the lies that tell us we need more than You. Quiet the noise, uproot our worries, and teach us to treasure Your voice above all else. Help us stay focused on what truly matters.

🌻 The Good Soil — A Heart Ready to Grow

“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” —Mark 4:20

This is the goal. Not perfection. Not performance. Just a heart that’s open—ready to receive, grow, and produce something beautiful in God’s time.

Let’s pray:
God, make us good soil. Open our hearts to Your Word, to the love of Jesus, and to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Help us not only hear Your truth—but live it. Let our lives bear fruit that points others back to You.

🌿 Keep Tending the Soil

Your heart is the garden where God wants to plant His truth, His love, and His purpose. And like any garden, it takes time, tending, and trust.

So stay close to Jesus. Keep reading His Word. Keep showing up, even when it’s hard.
Because when the seed takes root in good soil… your life will grow something far greater than you ever imagined.

Know Better. Do Better. Live Better. Be Fertile Soil.

Rocks before Sand!

Scripture: 

“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” —Mark 4:20

Theme Song:

The Sower's Song-Andrew Peterson (Lyrics)

References Used:

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.