“No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

For some reason, I got stuck on the plow this morning.

Jesus doesn’t say there is anything wrong with plowing. The work needs to be done, and I think God wants me to plow well. If He puts something in front of me, I should prepare, work hard, and do the best I can with what He has given me.

But the problem comes when I keep looking behind me at the field.

Are my rows straight? Are they crooked? Did I do a good job? What are other people going to think about it?

If the rows are straight, I can become prideful. If they are crooked, I can beat myself up. Either way, I am looking backward instead of keeping my eyes on where God is leading me.

That connected with Job for me this morning. Job says that God “does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning.”

I don’t always know what God is doing with the work He gives me. And even when I don’t plow it perfectly, God isn’t limited by my crooked lines.

I am giving a talk today about the small yeses I have given God over the years. I want to prepare well. I want to give the talk well. But when it is over, I also need to trust God with the field.

That is probably the harder part for me.

So my prayer today is pretty simple. Lord, help me pray, prepare, and trust. Help me plow well, but keep me from constantly looking behind me to judge the field. Let me do what You put in front of me and trust You with what comes from it.

Where are you being asked to plow well today, and then trust God with the field?

I pray you get the graces you need today.

Keep up the good fight.

I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.

Scripture: Job 9:1-12, 14-16 | Psalm 88:10bc-15 | Luke 9:57-62