One of the most time consuming tasks of maintaining a garden is weed-management. I'm old-fashioned and don't use any chemical weed killer. I pull my weeds. In previous years we've placed grass clippings in between rows to slow weed growth and this year the plan is to use newspapers - our own personal recycling program. Regardless of what we do, however, I still end up spending a lot of time pulling weeds. Part of the reason I won't use weed-killer is that I secretly (not so much now, I guess) enjoy pulling weeds. For one, I've discovered that it's fairly good excercise and helps me maintain healthy sugar levels. Second, it gives me plenty of time to think, reflect, and pray. Third, it's a reminder of how vigilant we have to be about the weeds that grow in our lives.
Weeds in our lives can be any variety of things, including negative thoughts, lack of self-control, anger, lack of faith, and bad habits. Anything that goes against God's perfect plan and will for our lives and keeps us from a faithful, consistent, deep relationship with our Creator is a weed. My garden reminds me how various they are - I have crabgrass, clover, and various vines and other things I don't know the name of. If I were to pick only one type of weed my garden would soon be overrun by the other weeds and my vegetables would be choked out. The same is true in my life. While I often put more energy into fighting a particular "weed" in my life, if I were ever to completely ignore the other weeds, they would quietly take over and choke out the relationships I have with my Lord and those people He's placed in my life.
My garden also reminds me how consistent and diligent I need to be in pulling weeds. They grow fast and increase greatly, no matter how clear I believe a spot is. Just a few days of neglect leads to a wealth of weeds. The same is true of my spiritual life. I must continually utilize my "weeding tools" (Bible reading and study, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians) to keep the weeds out. It only takes short periods of time of neglecting these areas of my life for weeds to creep up and threaten to take over.
My garden also reminds me how harmless many weeds look. I have one particular weed that grows on a vine. It will actually flower if I let it grow long enough. It even looks fairly decent - pretty green rounded leaves and little purple flowers. However, it doesn't belong in my garden and will take over and steal nutrients from my vegetables if I let it grow. There are many things in our lives which also look harmless and sometimes even pleasant, which mean to decieve us into thinking "it's not that bad. It can't be, it's too pretty." However, if God doesn't want it in our life, if it will not produce fruit, or help produce fruit, it doesn't belong and should be eliminated. That way the true fruit (or vegetables) have plenty of room to grow and flourish in our lives.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Pulling Weeds
One of the most time consuming tasks of maintaining a garden is weed-management. I'm old-fashioned and don't use any chemical weed killer. I pull my weeds. In previous years we've placed grass clippings in between rows to slow weed growth and this year the plan is to use newspapers - our own personal recycling program. Regardless of what we do, however, I still end up spending a lot of time pulling weeds. Part of the reason I won't use weed-killer is that I secretly (not so much now, I guess) enjoy pulling weeds. For one, I've discovered that it's fairly good excercise and helps me maintain healthy sugar levels. Second, it gives me plenty of time to think, reflect, and pray. Third, it's a reminder of how vigilant we have to be about the weeds that grow in our lives.
Weeds in our lives can be any variety of things, including negative thoughts, lack of self-control, anger, lack of faith, and bad habits. Anything that goes against God's perfect plan and will for our lives and keeps us from a faithful, consistent, deep relationship with our Creator is a weed. My garden reminds me how various they are - I have crabgrass, clover, and various vines and other things I don't know the name of. If I were to pick only one type of weed my garden would soon be overrun by the other weeds and my vegetables would be choked out. The same is true in my life. While I often put more energy into fighting a particular "weed" in my life, if I were ever to completely ignore the other weeds, they would quietly take over and choke out the relationships I have with my Lord and those people He's placed in my life.
My garden also reminds me how consistent and diligent I need to be in pulling weeds. They grow fast and increase greatly, no matter how clear I believe a spot is. Just a few days of neglect leads to a wealth of weeds. The same is true of my spiritual life. I must continually utilize my "weeding tools" (Bible reading and study, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians) to keep the weeds out. It only takes short periods of time of neglecting these areas of my life for weeds to creep up and threaten to take over.
My garden also reminds me how harmless many weeds look. I have one particular weed that grows on a vine. It will actually flower if I let it grow long enough. It even looks fairly decent - pretty green rounded leaves and little purple flowers. However, it doesn't belong in my garden and will take over and steal nutrients from my vegetables if I let it grow. There are many things in our lives which also look harmless and sometimes even pleasant, which mean to decieve us into thinking "it's not that bad. It can't be, it's too pretty." However, if God doesn't want it in our life, if it will not produce fruit, or help produce fruit, it doesn't belong and should be eliminated. That way the true fruit (or vegetables) have plenty of room to grow and flourish in our lives.
Weeds in our lives can be any variety of things, including negative thoughts, lack of self-control, anger, lack of faith, and bad habits. Anything that goes against God's perfect plan and will for our lives and keeps us from a faithful, consistent, deep relationship with our Creator is a weed. My garden reminds me how various they are - I have crabgrass, clover, and various vines and other things I don't know the name of. If I were to pick only one type of weed my garden would soon be overrun by the other weeds and my vegetables would be choked out. The same is true in my life. While I often put more energy into fighting a particular "weed" in my life, if I were ever to completely ignore the other weeds, they would quietly take over and choke out the relationships I have with my Lord and those people He's placed in my life.
My garden also reminds me how consistent and diligent I need to be in pulling weeds. They grow fast and increase greatly, no matter how clear I believe a spot is. Just a few days of neglect leads to a wealth of weeds. The same is true of my spiritual life. I must continually utilize my "weeding tools" (Bible reading and study, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians) to keep the weeds out. It only takes short periods of time of neglecting these areas of my life for weeds to creep up and threaten to take over.
My garden also reminds me how harmless many weeds look. I have one particular weed that grows on a vine. It will actually flower if I let it grow long enough. It even looks fairly decent - pretty green rounded leaves and little purple flowers. However, it doesn't belong in my garden and will take over and steal nutrients from my vegetables if I let it grow. There are many things in our lives which also look harmless and sometimes even pleasant, which mean to decieve us into thinking "it's not that bad. It can't be, it's too pretty." However, if God doesn't want it in our life, if it will not produce fruit, or help produce fruit, it doesn't belong and should be eliminated. That way the true fruit (or vegetables) have plenty of room to grow and flourish in our lives.
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