Reap What You Sow Mondays with Tony: The Power of Seed and Soil

Welcome back to another Reap What You Sow Mondays with Tony, where we dig deep into life-changing truth, practical wisdom, and supernatural perspective. This week, we’re exploring a concept that Jesus Himself taught using one of the most powerful metaphors in Scripture: seed and soil. It’s not just about what you plant—it’s about where you plant it.

Every dream, every word, every decision is a seed. But if your heart (your soil) isn’t right, even the most promising seed can die beneath the surface.

The Parable That Changed Everything

In Mark 4, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower. A farmer scatters seed across four different kinds of ground:

• The path (where the birds eat it)

  
  

• Rocky soil (where it springs up quickly but dies from lack of depth)

  
  

• Thorny soil (where it's choked out)

  
  

• Good soil (where it multiplies)

What does this mean? Your life and legacy are determined not just by your actions (seeds), but by the condition of your heart (soil).

"Some people are like the seed that falls on the hardened soil of the road. No sooner do they hear the message than Satan snatches away what has been planted in them." — Mark 4:15 (MSG)

The seed is the Word, the vision, the calling, the goal. But the soil is you.

And that soil must be cultivated continuously. What was good soil yesterday can harden over time if we aren’t tending to it. Seasons change, storms roll through, and weeds creep in. A fruitful life is not an accident—it is a result of persistent, Spirit-led cultivation.

Soil Check: What’s Growing in You?

You may have goals, dreams, and desires, but ask yourself:

• Is my soil hard? (Have I stopped believing?)

  
  

• Is it shallow? (Do I run when things get tough?)

  
  

• Is it thorny? (Am I distracted by fear, stress, or sin?)

  
  

• Is it good? (Am I ready to bear fruit?)

The enemy wants to attack your soil. He doesn't want the Word to take root. He'll try to harden your heart with bitterness, shallow your faith with disappointments, or choke your progress with distractions.

But you have the power to cultivate good soil.

"But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams." — Mark 4:20 (MSG)

This is not about perfection—this is about preparation. God can do more with willing soil than with hardened pride. Are you still teachable? Are you still tender to correction? Can you still be moved by compassion?

S.O.L.A.D. Spotlight: Memphis Was the Soil

In S.O.L.A.D.™: The Angelo and Angeline Chronicles™, the battle didn’t begin in the spirit realm—it began in the hearts of two ordinary teens. Angelo and Angeline didn’t start off as supernatural warriors. They started off as seed. Memphis was the soil.

When the Demon Master attacked, he wasn’t just going after buildings or schools. He was attacking the potential within the youth of the city, the purpose in every overlooked neighborhood, and the prayers buried deep in dry ground.

We see this all the time in real life too. Communities that seem neglected are often the very places where purpose is growing beneath the surface. Every time a youth chooses light over darkness, or a family rises out of hardship, or a leader emerges from adversity—that’s a seed bearing fruit in soil once thought barren.

Wiseman J and Jeff didn’t find victory just because they had glowing staffs and futuristic tech. They won because their hearts had been tilled through pain, loss, discipline, and humility. Even Kevin and Juanita, traveling between realms, were being tested to see if their roots ran deep.

The seed of victory had already been planted. What determined the outcome? Whether the hearts of the heroes were ready to produce.

Preparing Your Soil

Here are five ways to cultivate "good soil" in your life:

1. Repent and Remove Weed out anything that’s choking your growth. Unforgiveness. Doubt. Pride. Bitterness.

2. Saturate with the Word Like water to dry ground, God's Word softens your heart and gives the seed what it needs to live. You can’t grow what you don’t water.

3. Guard Against Predators Birds ate the seed along the path. The enemy wants to steal what God is planting. Be vigilant about what you let into your heart and home.

4. Dig Deep Roots Don’t just shout “Amen!” on Sunday. Meditate, memorize, and marinate in the Word all week. Depth defeats drought.

5. Keep the Ground Warm Stay in worship. Stay in fellowship. Stay encouraged. Good soil needs warmth and light. Don’t isolate when storms come—community keeps the ground tilled.

What Are You Growing?

Whether it’s peace or panic, strength or stress, faith or fear—you’re always growing something. So ask yourself:

• What seeds have I been sowing?

  
  

• What does my soil look like right now?

  
  

• What harvest do I really want in this next season?

Be honest about your answers. Self-deception is just another weed. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the hidden places, the roots of bitterness, or the rocks of offense that might be buried deep.

"If you want a different harvest, you must sow a different seed into better soil."

Remember: even the most anointed seed won’t grow in hostile soil. But even the smallest seed—faith the size of a mustard seed—can bloom in soil that has been surrendered to God.

This Week's Challenge

Take a moment each day this week to:

• Reflect on one seed (a goal, word, dream) you believe God has planted in your life.

  
  

• Examine your heart: What’s the condition of your soil?

  
  

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you break up any hardened ground and plant that seed deep.

  
  

• Water it daily with Scripture, worship, and obedience.

  
  

• Encourage someone else to check their soil too. Sometimes, your fruit is their reminder to keep growing.

"God isn’t interested in flash. He’s interested in fruit. And fruit only grows when the soil is ready."

S.O.L.A.D.™: A Living Metaphor

Like the parable of the seed and the soil, S.O.L.A.D.™ reminds us that greatness starts small. That destiny begins in secret. That storms test roots. And that soil doesn't have to be perfect—it just has to be willing.

In a city torn by fear, doubt, and darkness, young heroes took root. And from them, a supernatural harvest broke forth that would change the world.

Let that be your story too.

Until next Monday, keep sowing by faith. Guard your soil. Expect your harvest.

And remember—you are a Soldier of Light Against Darkness™.

Want more light in your life? Dive into the thrilling, faith-fueled pages of my book series, S.O.L.A.D.: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™. Each book is packed with spiritual truth, comic-book action, and heart-pounding encouragement for your walk.

Get your autographed copy today at: www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop