isn't it amazing how all of creation exemplifies a very detailed, personal, wise God? i love it. i love that i can glean life lessons from something as seemingly simple as garden plants + weeds.
after living in our new home for a week, we noticed our grass withering and our pretty flowers slumping over. so we bought our first hose! [things that first time homeowners get excited about... i may have to keep of list of these...]
we've had discussions about what time of day is best to water, how often we should water, if a sprinkler mist is better than a jet stream... we've been putting a lot of thought + effort into caring for our newly adopted landscape... but you know what's frustrating? weeds grow without any care whatsoever! and sometimes weeds look a lot like flowers, you can't even tell the difference unless you really look closely... i bet you can see where i'm going with this....
it made me examine what's being planted in my heart - am i letting the weeds of my flesh jealousy/bitterness/annoyances/stress/doubt/anxiety overrun the fruit of the Spirit? am i spending enough time in the Word, with Jesus, to easily spot weeds of envy + worry when they spring up? because a lot of times, those weeds go unnoticed, they blend in until they're choking out the fruit of love/joy/peace/patience/kindness/goodness/gentleness/self control....
it's difficult to keep weeds away, especially when they're so deeply rooted in my heart, i need to constantly keep my heart + mind in check... it's not just a one time job, as you gardeners know, it needs to be a daily [sometimes moment-by-moment] task that is crucial to our relationship with Jesus - because that's where He resides and that's what He cares about.
there are hundreds of verses about God seeing our hearts, asking for them entirely, not just a section or a piece, but the whole wounded/prideful/wicked thing, so that He can transform it.
i love this prayer in psalm 119... i want this to be the anthem of my heart...
"i have chosen the way of truth;
your judgments i have laid before me.
i cling to your testimonies;
O Lord, do not put me to shame...
i will run the course of Your commandments,
for you shall enlarge my heart.
teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
and i shall keep it to the end.
give me understanding, and i shall keep your law;
indeed i shall observe it with my whole heart.
make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
for i delight in it.
incline my heart to Your testimonies,
and not to covetousness.
turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
and revive me in Your way.
establish Your word to Your servant,
who is devoted to fearing You."
[v. 30-38]
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