What’s Growing in Your Garden?

I was working in my garden today, after neglecting it way too long this spring. I felt like the Holy Spirit was speaking some wisdom to me that I wanted to share. First, as I was pulling out the weeds that had grown in among my flowers, I felt the spirit of God whisper, this is what can happen when you neglect spending time with me. Things that you don’t want in your life can begin to take root. In the bed up by my mailbox, clover had grown rapidly, but it was difficult to pull out. The roots had embedded deep into the soil and I had to work hard and pulling them out. Most of us who love God are not looking to sin, but it is often like a weed, slowly taking root and destroying the the garden it enters. Secondly, I noticed that often the weeds grew close to or even within the base of a healthy plant, making it even harder to tear out. Weeds are not desirable in a garden, because they steal the nutrients from the soil needed for healthy plants to grow. Sin is like this and steals our joy, our peace, our loving kindness and replaces it with fear, shame, anger and bitterness. This is why we have to be so careful with what we are feeding our spirits. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to, “Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life.” In Hebrews 12:15 we are instructed, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” I see the hand of God at work in our hearts the same way a gardener creates a garden: tilling, fertilizing, watering, weeding and pruning. It is through His loving hand that we can grow to fullness and bear the fruit which He promised is ours when we stay connected to Him. Our part is to understand that the garden of our spirit requires our care and preseveration. So I ask you again, “What is growing in your garden?” Are you planting the word of God or the cares of this world? One will grow into a faith-filled life of purpose and the other will drain you of all life. Just as a garden requires us to tend it, so our spirit requires us to continually ensure that we are feeding it with the Word of God which promises to help us stay filled so that we may overflow.

Thank you Father, that you allow me to see You through all of creation. You amaze me in the beauty and majesty that is around me in every season. Help me to be aware of what I allow into my heart, mind and spirit. Reveal to me things that will steal from the purpose and calling You placed on my life and allow me to be pruned that I may yield fruit that will bless those You called me to interact with in all areas of life. May I become more like Your son, Jesus Christ, that I may be pleasing in Your sight. I love you, Lord. Amen.