Growing What We Plant

This morning, just as the sun was rising, Molly, a lovely, gentle labrador, and I were making our routine walk around the little lake near my home in England. Two ducks had arrived only last week. They glided along the water’s surface with elegance. In patches along the bank, flower bulbs that had been hidden through long winter months are now making themselves known. Purple and white crocuses, and bright yellow daffodils are all bursting in splendor through the grass, lifting themselves toward the sky in grand announcement — “Spring is coming! We are the proof!”

As I gazed upon the beauty surrounding me, I was reminded that quite simply — we grow what we plant. In our physical worlds, if we plant a rose bush, then we will grow roses. If we plant tomato seedlings, then tomatoes will grow. If we plant a daffodil bulb, then daffodils will grow. None of us are surprised by this fact. We all know that whatever we plant, that is what we will grow. Let’s not forget that the same thing takes place in our spiritual worlds.

If we want to be more Christlike, then we must remember that we grow what we plant. For example, if we want to grow faith, then we must plant our minds with faith, and how does faith grow? “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Therefore, we saturate our hearts with the seeds of God’s own Word, believing that faith will grow as a result — and it surely will. If we want to grow hope in our hearts and minds, then again, we plant in our hearts and minds, God’s own words.

Our hearts are the soil. God’s Word is the seed. When we plant the truth of His Words into the soil of our hearts, then godly characteristics will grow within us. Of course, we must water our soil with prayer and praise and thanksgiving which keeps a holy desire within us to hear and do all that Father speaks to us.

Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” We can plant nothing of godliness on our own. We can act in kindness without Christ, but pure and holy love only comes through Jesus. It is only through Jesus being planted into our lives that we will then grow a godly kindness, truth, thankfulness, generosity, forgiveness, and above all — a godly love that the world cannot give.

Therefore, let’s be careful what we plant in our hearts, because what we plant will surely grow.