In Jeremiah 4, God calls His people to something deeper than surface-level repentance. “If you will return, O Israel,” He says, “return to Me… Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.” (Jer. 4:1–3)
This chapter captures the heart of true renewal: God doesn’t just want words of repentance—He wants a changed heart. He’s not looking for religious performance; He’s longing for genuine surrender.
When I Thought I Was Getting Closer—but Was Drifting Away
There was a season when I felt distant from God, even though I thought I was growing closer. After stepping away from ministry due to different viewpoints with the Baptist churches, I began exploring Scripture on my own. I leaned into a more messianic Jewish understanding of the Bible, convinced I was becoming more obedient.
But ironically, while my study increased, my intimacy with God decreased. I wasn’t drawing nearer to His presence—I was analyzing Him from a distance. Like Judah, I had the form of faith but lacked the fire of fellowship. God wanted to break up that unplowed ground in my heart—the pride and independence that had taken root beneath my pursuit of knowledge.
The Subtle Drift of Comfort and Complacency
A couple of years ago, my priorities started to shift. My real-estate business demanded more time, and slowly, the things of God began taking a backseat. We’d skip church for soccer games or weekend travel, telling ourselves it was temporary. But that temporary comfort became a spiritual pattern.
Jeremiah 4 warns against this drift: “Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?” (v. 14)
That verse pierced me. It wasn’t just about overt sin—it was about letting worldly concerns take residence in a heart meant for God.
Grace That Refuses to Quit
Even in my failures, God kept showing me grace through the people closest to me. My wife has been patient when I’ve fallen short of loving and serving her the way Christ calls me to. My oldest son forgave me after I yelled at him for something that wasn’t even his fault.
Those moments humbled me. They reminded me that the same mercy God extended to Israel is the mercy He extends to me. Grace doesn’t overlook sin—it transforms it into testimony.
Empty Cisterns and False Success
A few months ago, I caught myself scrolling through the list of top realtors in my area. I wanted so badly to see my name there—to be recognized and admired. It was envy, plain and simple. But it left me feeling hollow.
Jeremiah 4 describes this emptiness vividly: “Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you; this is your doom… it has reached to your heart.” (v. 18) The world promises fulfillment through achievement, but those cisterns always run dry. God used that moment to remind me that true success isn’t measured by recognition but by relationship—by how deeply I’m rooted in Him.
Breaking Up the Ground Again
Jeremiah’s call to “break up your fallow ground” still echoes today. It’s an invitation to let God till the hardened soil of our hearts—to remove pride, envy, distraction, and complacency so that something new can grow.
I’ve learned that returning to God isn’t a one-time event—it’s a daily choice. It’s choosing prayer over pressure, faith over striving, and presence over productivity. It’s allowing God to uproot the weeds before planting new seeds.
Closing Reflection
Jeremiah 4 is not just a warning—it’s a wake-up call wrapped in mercy. God still longs for His people to come home, not half-heartedly, but fully surrendered.
If you’ve been drifting—caught up in busyness, success, or self-reliance—hear His voice again today:
“Return to Me with your whole heart.” Because the soil of revival begins in the field of repentance.
Conform to Jesus 
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