I’ve been going through my old blog and looking over posts. I found this little reminder of some lessons I ponder every spring as I plan my garden.
Lessons From The Garden
Working in my garden has taught me many truths about growth in our Christian lives.
There’s no real order to these right now, but here are a few of the lessons I’ve learned.
A Garden Is Like a Relationship
A garden takes work, just as a relationship does. You can’t throw out some seeds and expect a perfectly manicured garden to appear. You have to prepare the soil, removing weeds and rocks. We have to maintain it, being vigilant to take care of any weeds that pop up or any diseases that plague our plants as soon as can be. Like the garden, we must draw near to God and work on that relationship. We must spend time with Him. Ask him to reveal the weeds of sin in our lives and the diseases to be dealt with.
Sins Are the Weeds of the Soul
If your hand causes you to stumble,cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
Mark 9:43-45
Weeding is something that must been done to keep a garden growing. The roots of weeds will quickly choke our the plants your are trying to grow, tangling them hopelessly with their own. They steal vital nutrients from the soil. When you weed, you must not only get the leaves, or sprout, but the root as well. If you don’t take the root of the weeds, they will grown right back. We must ask God to reveal the roots of sin in our lives. Does a TV show cause you to sin? Stop watching it. Friends influence you to sin? Stop spending so much time with them. Surround yourself with godly friends who will encourage you to pursue God and hold your accountable.
Watering Your Garden
When watering your garden, you must water the roots deeply. If you only water the very top of the soil, the roots will stay there, not growing deep into the ground to help keep the plant stable. A plant with a shallow root system will be easily knocked over. We must drink deeply of the living water and ask God to continually fill us. Again, it’s a part of spending time with God, seeking His face. How many times are we okay with a little devotion, maybe a little verse of Scripture, from a book instead of drinking in God’s Word? We must root ourselves in the Word of God. Then we will know the Truth for ourselves and not be easily swayed or blown over.
Pruning is Essential
There sometimes comes a time for pruning. It can be a dead branch/vine, a burnt out part of our ministry that we must seek if it’s God’s will for us to continue in this ministry, and if not, it’s time to prune it. Sometimes, to make plants more productive, to let more of the plant’s nutrients go to other fruits, you prune blossoms off. Sometimes we take on so many ministries, that they aren’t being given what they need. That is when we must seek God’s will for the ministries we are a part of, if we are able to give it our best, and reevaluate which ones God is calling us to.
A few of the many lessons I’ve thought about while gardening.
I have linked this post up at:
Christian Blogger Community
Timeless Mama 
I’m glad you resurrected this! For my part, it was nice to see someone talk about nurturing a relationship with God rather then a focus on nurturing relationships with others. It’s just a breath of fresh bloggy air to me right now ❤ Coming to you from The Loft!
I love this post – it reminds me of some of the parables from the New Testament. I think it is a wonderful analogy and very encouraging to get rid of those weeds and seek the Lord – let Him overflow within us! Thank you for sharing these words with us at The Loft this week! 🙂
Robbi! This post is sooo good. No matter our spiritual age, we all need to work on our relationship with Jesus. Thanks for linking up.
Robbi, A good post to remind us we reap what we sow. What you’re sowing here is rich in beauty and so wise. thanks for linking up
I was just sharing a post on parenting, and this really spoke to me! Growing a child is like growing a plant, well sort of. It takes care, preparation and feeding and so much more – and it’s way more important. Thank you! I needed that.
I think that is why God refers to vineyards so much in the Bible. So much of life is like a garden first you must plant seeds and cultivate and work at it to get a harvest. Now days people are so used to getting what they want so quickly at the first sign of being something wrong they throw it out. Its good to put the time and energy into something and give it time and room to grow!
God DEFINITELY loves to weed us out 😀
I really enjoyed reading your gardening analogy as it relates to our relationship with God. I’m thankful for each little part: planting in good soil, weeding, watering deep roots, and even pruning. Each part is time spent with God, strengthening our walk with Him. Thank you for great thoughts. I found you this week through The Loft.
I’m not a traditionally religious person in my adult life, but I can still see the lessons you mention. What stood out to me most, right now, is that we need to be cautious of who and what we’re spending time with, as it can change us just be being close to and interacting with those things. Making thoughtful choices to “just be good” (something I try to do in my life), and spend time with what inspires that, rather than takes that away, is so important.