Cultivate Sacred SoilSample

Day 7: Get Your Hands Dirty

Faith is not a passive pursuit—it’s active, hands-on, and often messy. James 1:22 calls us to be doers of the Word, reminding us that spiritual growth requires action, not just intention. We are challenged to embrace this truth by “getting our hands dirty” in the field of faith, recognizing that cultivating a life that honors God takes effort, commitment, and a willingness to dig deep.

Gardening doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and neither does cultivating faith. Just as you don’t need to be born with a green thumb to grow a thriving garden, you don’t need to have all the answers to grow spiritually. Cultivation is a skill that develops over time through practice and submission to the Master Gardener, Jesus. Philippians 1:6 reassures us that the work God begins in us is an ongoing process. He is patient, faithful, and determined to bring that work to completion, even when the growth feels slow or unseen.

Cultivation cannot happen without action. Growth begins when we stop observing and start participating. Like a gardener who grabs a shovel and begins to break ground, we must step into the work of cultivating our faith. This might mean digging into Scripture, investing in relationships, stepping out to serve, or confronting areas of our lives that need pruning. Growth doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of intentional effort fueled by trust in God’s provision.

Another key theme is surrender. A gardener doesn’t control the weather or force plants to grow, but they prepare the soil, plant the seeds, and nurture the environment. Similarly, we must submit our lives to Jesus, allowing Him to shape our hearts and guide our steps. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that we can trust God to complete His work in us, even when we don’t see immediate results. Spiritual growth requires patience as God’s timing often feels slower than ours, but His process is always perfect.

Getting your hands dirty also means embracing the imperfections and challenges of the process. Growth is messy, whether it’s clearing away weeds, breaking up hard ground, or waiting for seeds to sprout. Faith requires persistence and patience. It’s not about perfection; it’s about showing up, trusting God, and doing the work He’s called you to do, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain.

Today, reflect on what it means to "get your hands dirty" in your faith. What areas of your life need attention, action, or surrender? Where might God be inviting you to start digging, to prepare the soil for something new?

Faith grows when we engage with it. As you cultivate this field, trust that God is with you, teaching you the skills you need, providing the strength to persevere, and shaping your life into something beautiful and fruitful. Remember, the work He began in you will be brought to completion—trust His process, grab the shovel, and get started.

Thank you for joining me on this 7-day journey of cultivating faith. I pray this plan has encouraged you to dig deeper into your relationship with God, trust His process, and embrace the growth He is bringing in your life. To explore these themes further and discover how to cultivate a life rooted in God’s presence, check out my book, Cultivate Sacred Soil, at http://cultivatesacredsoil.com.