Today was the day! I had decided with this early March sunshine that it was time to plan the garden. This year our garden was going to be a little more unique than in the past. This year we have bought a home so it feels a little more special to plan where I'm gonna put the garden, compost and deciding what to plant. I knew that I needed to find a spot that received good sun, would be easy to water, and tend. Once I decided where I was going to plant, I realized that I was going to need to pull some weeds. The long winter had brought in some undesirables.
As I shoved the shovel into the dirt, and flipping the soil over, I could hear the scrape of rocks under ground. It seemed that I had more than weeds to remove. I dug for awhile turning the wet rich soil over and turning the ground. I stopped occasionally and tossed out the weeds, big rocks and broke up clods of dirt with my hands. Then I realized that this was like tilling the soil of my soul, and that would be where I would need to start in building my relationship with God.
"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart for a special work." Jeremiah 1:5 NCV
I know that I was created to bring glory to God, and I know that God has a purpose for me. To bring glory to my lovely God, I desire to till the soil of my soil so that I come to him real, and authentic. The "big rocks", weeds and hardened soil brings barriers and difficulty when living out Gods plan in my life. I don't doubt for a second that there is no barrier God can not over come, however; I want to come before him, hear him and develop and beautiful relationship in him. The healthier the soil the easier it is for me to grow strong and healthy in his love. These big rocks can get me off track from God, and the weeds can suck the energy right out of me so that I have little time for God.
Luke recalls Jesus words as he spoke to a crowd. In the story about planting a seed (Luke 8) Jesus says:
"Some seed fell among the thorny weeds, but the weeds grew up and choked the good plants." Luke 8:7 NCV.
Jesus explains that the "seed" is God's message, and the trampling of feet, rocks and weeds pose problems to the growth of the message. Jesus went on to say, "The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear Gods teaching, but they let worries, riches and pleasures of this life keep them from growing." Luke 8:14 NCV
Jesus finalizes his story and says:
"And the seed that fell on good ground is like those who hear God's teaching with good, honest hearts and obey it patiently produce good fruit." Luke 8:15 NCV
That's what I want to be; good soil to produce good fruit. Now it's time to start tilling. It will be laborious and there may even be things I want to avoid, but I won't. It's time to really clean out that soil. I will use the word of God, and good relationships to bring love, joy and peace into that soul soil.
- Next post I will continue with "Tilling the Soil" and discuss the "big rocks", weeds and hard lumps that I have discovered, and the work God makes me do to rid myself of them.
