Where Gardens Grow

I admire a beautiful garden where luscious green plants stand vibrant and flowers of both gentle and bold colors spring forth. However, I am not a gardener. I forget to weed and to water. The absence of those two elements does not result in a beautiful garden. It is the same in the garden of one’s heart.

There are two voices that speak to us with gardening advice. One voice is demonic telling us that sin in the garden doesn’t matter. Another voice is the Holy Spirit telling us that sin is ugly and does us no good. In fact, if neglected by the life-giving water of the Word of God, and true repentance, then weeds of discontent, self-loathing, guilt, and anger will take deep root. The beauty of joy will be choked away.

Demonic voices seek to destroy our peace. The Holy Spirit seeks to restore the beauty of Godly calm in the midst of any storm. Demonic voices seek to lead us astray, thereby turning us from the heights of joy found in Christ alone. The Holy Spirit seeks to grow godly courage that stands strong and beautiful even in the winds of life’s most troubled and grievous moments.

I am told that a good gardener will peruse his or her garden daily, seeking out every weed that destroys the beauty surrounding it. Let us all choose to be good gardeners, daily watering our hearts with the sweet and life-giving truths found in God’s Word, which is His love letter to us. Let us fertilize the soil of our hearts with much prayer, for it is that which links our hearts with the very heart of God. Let us cry out daily, as David did, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10 KJV). It is this sincere attitude that keeps our garden free of weeds, growing instead the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7 KJV), and maintains an inexpressible and glorious joy (I Peter 1:8 NIV).

Let us be daily gardeners in all the seasons of life, seeking, with the guidance of the sweet Holy Spirit, to grow crops that bring glory to God, strength to ourselves, and joy to those around us. May the fruits of the Spirit grow strong and beautiful in the gardens of our hearts.