The heart of weed pulling

It’s funny how we can get a spiritual picture when doing mundane things…..like pulling weeds!

When and where do weeds grow?  Weeds grow In an unattended or neglected garden.  When a garden is neglected, you can be sure weeds will grow!

Life application:  Busyness of life can keep us from tending to our spiritual garden, our hearts and our growth in Christ.  We can become so busy we neglect the fertilizing of our souls, the watering through God’s Word and the Sonshine of His presence.  Instead of growing fruits of the Spirit we let roots of bitterness, anger, and jealousy grow in our hearts.  Things which aren’t beneficial to our life, become habits.  In the same way, good habits can slowly be neglected and eventually discarded.  It can happen suddenly through an impulsive bad decision or slowly through one compromise after another. 

How do weeds grow?  Weeds don’t need attention, they grow in any environment. 

Life application:  Satan knows when an environment is good for weed growing.  A neglected heart, one that has grown lukewarm or worse yet, cold, is a good environment for Satan to lay the groundwork for much despair.  In 1Peter 5:8 we are told that Satan prowls around  like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He sees a neglected garden and plants weeds of destruction.  A root of bitterness or jealousy can start out small, but left unattended takes root in our hearts and grows.

How do we get rid of the weeds?  We’ve got to pull them out!

Some have shallow roots and are easier to remove, some the roots grow very deep and are more difficult.

Life application:  First of all, it’s easier to remove weeds when the ground is moist.  It has often been said that reading God’s Word is like water to our souls.  So, watering our hearts through God’s Word will moisten the soil of our hearts to begin the process of removing these detrimental weeds.  Some weeds have shallow root systems, they are pretty easy to pull, not much effort is needed.  Some weeds have very long, tough roots and can be very difficult to remove. The longer the weed is left in the ground, the harder to remove it. These types of weeds may need a special gardening tool, a trowel or hoe, to dig down into the root system in order to pull them out.  We have some mighty tools to use to rid our hearts of these destructive weeds, which by the way when left unattended will just take over more and more ground.  I’m not talking about round-up or other such weed killer, I’m speaking of prayer and God’s Word.  God will empower us through the Holy Spirit to make the changes needed.  He will instruct us through His Word.  He is the Master Gardener and wants nothing more for us than to live a life growing closer to Him and in doing so producing the Fruits of the Spirit, free from weeds that can entangle our hearts.

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I can’t speak of weeds, without bringing up Dandelions!  I love dandelions, especially when they turn into wishing flowers. Being a preschool teacher I have gotten many a dandelion brought to me and watched many children blow the dandelion fluff!   They find such delight in these flowers…I mean, weeds!   I think that’s why I enjoy dandelions!   I know, though, when the lawn gets mowed, those dandelions will be mown as well and will never become wishing flowers.  Sometimes you have to give up your wishes, for the betterment of others, or the dandelion for the health of the lawn. It’s not easy giving up your own desires, putting others’ needs before your own.  It’s hard, but has much reward.  When yielding your desires to those of Christ, the Bible tells us you will reap a harvest.  Galations 6:9 tells us to not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up.

I was just in my garden today, hence this post!  When I was done weeding, my hands were dirty, dirt under my nails, hands felt rough even after washing.  They needed a good slather of hand lotion.  So it is when we get down to the gardening of our hearts.  The more neglected they’ve been, the more weeding we’ve got to do.  Sometimes we have to get our hands dirty, there might be discomfort (my back was aching when I was done weeding today!).  An apology to someone you’ve had a disagreement with, forgiving someone who has betrayed you, loving someone who is unlovable are examples of ways you may have to get dirty in order to rid your heart of the weeds. 

And when you’re done weeding (which we will never be fully done with the work of weeding until we are in Heaven!)  fellowship with a trusted friend, precious time spent with Jesus can be that soothing lotion for our hearts that have become grubby in the work of removing the weeds of our souls.

You can be sure that good soil, plenty of Sonshine and a well watered garden will help you produce much good fruit.

And remember, you’ve got the Master Gardener to help you tend it all!