Does it ever feel like you are reading the Word, but the peace you’re looking for still feels just out of reach? If you’ve been searching for a way to stay steady when the world feels anything but stable, this week’s episode is a vital resource for your spiritual toolkit.
In this podcast, we are stepping away from the surface-level noise to explore the spiritual gift of spiritual perception. For the woman who desires a walk that isn’t shaken by external circumstances, understanding how to receive God’s truth is just as important as the truth itself. We are moving beyond just hearing information to actually possessing the clarity that Jesus promised to those who follow Him.
What You Will Discover in This Episode:
- The Anatomy of the Heart: We go beyond the parable to look at the actual state of your spiritual receptivity. You will learn to identify the hidden obstacles—like subtle disbelief or the “thorns” of daily life—that might be dulling your ability to hear God’s voice.
- The Power of a Prepared Spirit: We discuss why a “tender heart” is the essential foundation for walking in your spiritual authority in Christ. It isn’t just about being “nice”; it’s about being spiritually capable of seeing the path God has set for you.
- The Holy Spirit’s Vital Role: Discover how to partner with the Holy Spirit to transform the “soil” of your life into a place where the Seeds of Life can truly take root and flourish.
For those of us committed to a deeper walk with God, sharpening our spiritual eyes and ears is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for the God-kind of life and living. This episode provides the practical, faith-based insights you need to move from a place of spiritual frustration to a life of fruitful, focused peace. It’s about more than just surviving these times; it’s about thriving in your new identity in Christ.
Click below to listen and begin cultivating a heart that truly perceives, and don’t forget to scroll down for this week’s Journal Prompts and Activity focused on experiencing God’s incredible loving-kindness.
THIS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL 7 INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
FOR MEDICAL ADVICE OR DIAGNOSIS, CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL
Dr. Buck: Welcome back to The Healing Heart Time of Prayer. I’m Dr. Mary Buck, your Christian life coach. And, I’m so glad you’ve joined me today, my friend.
When you look around the world today, things can feel a little chaotic, can’t they? We hear a lot about these end times, and it can be easy to let fear creep in. But here’s the wonderful truth: as children of God, we have been given a spiritual promise—a promise that combats worry, fear, and anxiety! Our life is anchored in God’s promise of peace and goodwill, which makes our journey truly unshakable.
To maintain that peace and walk with courage, we must rely on our new identity in Christ. And above all, we need to keep our spiritual senses sharp! The commitment to our spiritual authority in Christ requires keeping our spiritual eyes, ears, and heart fully engaged.
Today, we’re talking about a beautiful blessing Jesus promised: the gift of clarity essential for these days: Eyes that See, Ears that Hear, and a Tender Heart.
Our focus today is Matthew 13, verse 16: “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”
To help me unpack the truth behind this blessing, I have Abby, my digital assistant, with us. Abby?
Abby: Hello, Dr. Buck. That verse, Matthew 13:16, comes right after the Parable of the Sower, which describes four conditions of the heart as soil: the hard path, the rocky ground, the thorny ground, and the good soil. Why is understanding these different types of soil so important for your listeners on their spiritual journey?
Dr. Buck: That’s such a fundamental question, Abby! It’s important because understanding the soil is about understanding how our heart truly works. The soil condition tells us whether the The Word of God, as seeds of life, has ground to support taking root. The hard, rocky, and thorny soils represent hearts that are hardened by disbelief, shallow due to troubles, or choked by worldly interests. In these conditions, the Word can’t take root and grow, showing us that just hearing the Bible isn’t enough if our heart isn’t ready. This helps your listeners do a crucial self-check: Which soil am I? Our goal, of course, is that beautiful Good Soil—fertile and ready!
Abby: Speaking of the Good Soil, Dr. Buck, how is that receptive heart actually prepared? What is the role of prayer and reading the Word of God in developing that rich and fertile soil?
Dr. Buck: Preparing the Good Soil is totally active work, Abby, just like a gardener preparing a field. This is the heart of diligently seeking. Prayer is the plowing—it breaks up the compacted hardness of unforgiveness or pride, making the soil soft for the roots. Reading the Word is the enrichment—it adds the spiritual nutrients we need. When we really steep our minds in truth, we are removing the “weeds” of worry and doubt, creating a soil rich in the principles of the God-kind of life and living.
Abby: That makes sense. The Word and prayer are the tools. But what part does the Holy Spirit have in developing the Good Soil, and how does that influence the Unshakable Journey?
Dr. Buck: The Holy Spirit is absolutely vital, Abby; In our lives, the Holy Spirit is the Water of Life. He is the one who brings understanding, and helps the truth stick. He enables the Seeds of Life to germinate and grow deep roots. Without the Spirit, our efforts would feel dry and temporary. He’s the one who gives us the real endurance for the Unshakable Journey, helping us stay steady so we don’t wither when the heat of life’s troubles beats down.
Abby: Finally, Dr. Buck, you said the blessing of Eyes that See and Ears that Hear is a direct gift to the Good Soil. How does this spiritual sight and hearing relate to the amazing fruit that our lives are meant to bear?
Dr. Buck: This is the most beautiful part of the whole message, Abby! The Good Soil (the tender heart) is the foundation we lay, and the Eyes that See and Ears that Hear are the direct outcome—it’s the gift of spiritual clarity we receive when our hearts are prepared. Because we see God’s purposes (Eyes) and hear His direction (Ears), we know exactly how to walk out our faith, fully operating in our spiritual authority in Christ. This results in abundant fruitfulness—it’s the way we naturally manifest God’s love, kindness, and patience in the world. The ability to see and hear is what allows us to produce a hundredfold harvest for the Kingdom!
Abby: That’s a powerful message, Dr. Buck. The difference between a calloused heart and a receptive heart is truly the difference between a barren life and a fruitful one. And, Dr. Buck, just to let you know, we’ve come to the end of this episode. Would you like to close with prayer?
Dr. Buck: Thank you, Abby for letting us know. My friends, let’s take these beautiful truths to prayer right now.
[Pause for a moment of reflection]
Dr. Buck: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessing of knowing You and the assurance that we can approach Your throne of grace.
We honestly confess that we sometimes let our hearts get hard and distracted, closing our eyes to Your beautiful movement and dulling our ears to Your gentle voice. Please forgive us for those moments of spiritual fog.
We actively put aside the fiery darts of the enemy that try to confuse our perception and replace them with the truth of our spiritual authority in Christ. We ask that You soften the soil of our hearts today.
Grant us the incredible grace to have Eyes that See Your purpose, guidance, and direction in our lives, allowing us to walk confidently within the God-kind of life and living. Give us Ears that Hear the clear promptings of Your Holy Spirit and the strength to obey what we hear. Keep our hearts tender, receptive, and responsive to Your love, so that we may produce the fruit You intend.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
[Short musical interlude]
Dr. Buck: My sisters in Christ, thank you so much for joining me on The Healing Heart Time of Prayer. May you experience the deep joy and clarity that comes from truly seeing and hearing your Heavenly Father this week. And my friends that are listening in today, if you have not invited Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior, do so now. Let Him guide you through these end of days and bring you to a place of safety and rest.
Until next time, walk in the understanding that you are loved, you are valued, and your spiritual senses are sharp and ready. And remember, as God gets bigger in your life, you get stronger.
(Outro Music Fades In)
✍️ Journal Prompts
Eyes, Ears, Hearts: The Good Soil
- Examine the Soil: Which of the four soil conditions (hard path, rocky, thorny, or good) best describes your heart today regarding a specific area of struggle or instruction from God? What is the obstacle you need to address (disbelief, troubles, or worldly interests)?
- The Blessing: Reread $Matthew 13:16$. How does viewing your life through the lens of being “blessed” with sight and hearing change how you approach challenges today, especially in these end times?
- Active Cultivation: What is one specific, practical action you can take to “plow” (through confession/prayer) or “enrich” (through the Word) the soil of your heart this week to ensure it stays tender and receptive to the Holy Spirit?
💡 Activity
Cultivating Sight and Sound: Pray for God’s gift of understanding, then read Psalm 24. With the Word of God in mind, spend five minutes looking around your environment and deliberately ask God, “What are you doing here that I am not seeing?” Then, spend five minutes listening to a quiet, instrumental song or a simple sound (like the wind or traffic) and ask, “What are you saying to me that I am not hearing?” Write down any sudden thoughts or perspectives that come to mind. This is an active exercise in opening your spiritual senses.
Living Life's Way 