Weeding the Garden of Your Heart

When spring rolls around each year, I get in the mindset to weed and prepare my flowerbeds for God's beauty to be admired. The toiling of removing weeds, debris, and unwanted grass will soon slow down and eventually I will be able to enjoy what emerges and blooms. However, the preparation process is a lot of tedious work, and my body usually screams with soreness for the next several days. As I continue to pull and rake the weeds out of my beds, I am reminded of the sin that can so easily entangle my life by slipping in; it must be removed by the heavenly Gardner.

Another aspect of my gardening experience is to pay close attention to what is growing whether or not it is really just another weed or the renewal of a plant emerging from last year. This makes me think about what is right and what is wrong in my "heart garden"; what needs to be removed and what needs to stay. Great caution must be taken so as to not remove the right things.

The weeds are relentless and refuse to stay away. After a few days, I begin to notice their invasion again, this time it's slower and sneakier than before. Once the hard work of removing all that doesn't belong, it is then important to maintain the beds. Throughout the growing and enjoying season that spring initiates, the weeds (sin) will make it's way back where they doesn't belong. If I check every day, I can easily remove and maintain a check on those weeds and unwanted things that don't belong in my flower garden; this applies to the 'garden of my heart' as well. The enemy and his band of invaders appear now and then: gophers, moles, fire ants, various other pests, drought... I have to defend my flower garden just like when the garden of my heart is under attack with the enemy trying to plant his weeds of destruction there. I must defend it and keep it clean.

Just as I weed out and tend my flower gardens, God weeds out the 'garden of my heart'. He removes what doesn't need to take root and grow there, and plants His beauty to flourish there.

Let's not forget about planting new plants and sowing seeds. What a thrill it is to see the plants thrive and new flowers emerge from the seeds that were sown. That is why it is crucial to plant and sow God's word into my heart. Try to envision God as your Gardner as you work with Him to maintain the beauty and integrity of your heart. It's where He lives, grows you, and allows you to bloom for Him - in that garden of your heart. What seeds are you sowing in the garden of your heart? What is planted and growing there?

Let's take a look at a few of the scriptures:

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Is. 58:11 NIV)

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Gal. 6:7-8 NIV)

 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9 NIV)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples. (John 15:1-8 NIV)

Lord, thank You for tending to the gardens of our hearts. You removed the sin and its ugly. It's up to us to maintain its beauty for You to see and for others to admire and see You there. May the roots of Christ grow deep in our hearts and the sin and its unwanted roots be removed so we may flourish for You. Thank Your for loving us. Thank Your for Jesus. In Jesus' Name. Amen.