In the parable Jesus told about the sower and the seeds, we see that seeds fell on different surfaces of ground, some of which were better than others. If the rocky places, soil, thorny areas, etc. represent the heart of different people and how receptive they are to God's Word, is it possible for the person to change their heart on their own in order to receive the Word?
I'm not sure I'm asking this right, so I'll explain my reason for asking. In the end, we're judged in how we receive/reject God's Word to us and how we prosper afterwards, such as not at all, or in limited ways, or in a big and fruitful way. If our heart at the time of receiving the Word determines all this, then how do we change it to be receptive before the "seed" is sown?
I'm not sure I'm asking this right, so I'll explain my reason for asking. In the end, we're judged in how we receive/reject God's Word to us and how we prosper afterwards, such as not at all, or in limited ways, or in a big and fruitful way. If our heart at the time of receiving the Word determines all this, then how do we change it to be receptive before the "seed" is sown?