How Does Your Spiritual Garden Grow

Here we are amid another growing season. I love going to the Farmer's Market and seeing all the fresh fruits and vegetables. It is fun to see all the bright colors of beets, squash, and radishes. There is nothing like fresh corn on the cob or a sweet juicy peach that runs down your chin.

However, to appreciate these crops, there is a ton of work that goes into producing these delectable treasures. I'm the first to admit I am not very good when it comes to gardening or caring for plants. My family can testify that I kill silk plants. I appreciate the skills of others who have a green thumb. But, as I thought about the whole gardening process, I realized it is the same process with our spiritual garden. Let me ask you this, "How is Your Spiritual Garden Growing?"

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The Importance of the Seed

We all know the life of anything begins with a seed. Someone or maybe even yourself began to plant a spiritual seed within your heart. The seed is important because to produce something, you have to have a seed. For me, it was my grandmother who took me to church and taught me the importance of prayer and reading my Bible. Maybe your seed began by someone talking and praying for you, or an invitation to church, a book someone gave you to read, perhaps a podcast, or a simple conversation. Someone placed the seed in your spiritual dirt. The one thing that sticks out to me is this scripture,

John 12:24 For sure, I tell you, unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it will only be a seed. If it dies, it will give much grain .

The Power of One Seed

A seed will only be a seed and never produce anything unless it dies to itself. What does it mean to die to self? For me, it means living for Jesus instead of myself. This isn't an easy task because we live in a sinful world. But the more we choose to turn away from our selfish, sinful nature, the easier it becomes. It doesn't mean we will be perfect, but we will produce good seeds. If we do nothing as a seed, we will not create anything.

As a seed, we have the choice to receive or reject dying to our selfish nature. It is God's desire for each of us to becomes seeds that produce a great harvest. Think about the power of one dandelion seed and how one flower can plant many seeds. God has given us the same capability. As one seed in God's kingdom, we can plant millions of seeds in our lifetime. We can do so much more than we can think or even imagine. Sowing seeds can take you to places you never knew or dreamed of making an impact.

Growing Where You Are Planted

A seed can grow in good or bad soil. The source can produce better in good soil, but it is not necessary. I have seen pictures of seeds that have grown through blacktop. A plant growing through blacktop shows the fighting spirit and tenacity of the seed. The reason it can grow is because it took root, and it overcame the barriers it faced. It pushed through the difficulties and chose to thrive. No matter your circumstances, a seed can take root in the most challenging places and still grow into a beautiful thing. God has a plan for every seed planted, but how you choose to grow is your own story.

Refreshing Water

All seeds need water to grow. It doesn't matter if it rains or is watered by someone else. All plants and humans need water. Our world is two-thirds water which is what keeps our planet in balance and thriving. However, the lack of water can also spread disease and kill. Nothing can sustain life without water. We had a drought a few years back, and everything withered away and died due to the lack of water. Water is the crucial component that gives humans life and makes plants flourish, just as Living Water makes our soul grow and gives us eternal life. Nothing quenches your thirst, like a big glass of cold water when you are thirsty, but you never thirst again once you drink spiritual water.

John: 4:14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

What are You Producing?

Once you have all the elements needed for your garden, you can produce a harvest. However, It takes a lot of prayer, sweat, tears, and commitment to keep producing fruit in your life. It means checking your dirt and nourishing your soul daily. But the payoff is worth all of our hard work. After a while, as you begin to grow, you start producing the Fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Those Pesky Weeds

The one thing I hate about gardening is the weeds. I can have my garden looking great one day, and the next day weeds pop up out of nowhere. I compare weeds to my thoughts. These are the thoughts that pop up out of nowhere and threaten to take over my garden. If I don't keep after those pesky weeds, they will turn my heart into an overgrown graveyard producing nothing. Do you know what my spiritual weed killer is? My Bible. The word of God reminds me about the promises, hope, mercy, and grace of God when I mess up. It reminds me that gardening is hard work, but God wants to produce His best fruit through me to give to others.

Taste and See

The result of gardening is enjoying what we have grown. Our garden is a learning experience that teaches us many things, from knowing when the fruit is at its peak and ripe for picking or how to get a better yield. Our spiritual gardens are full of good-tasting promises and delicious truths that God has for each of us.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Share Your Harvest

My Dad is an avid gardener who loves to share his fruits and vegetables with his family and neighbors. Every year his garden gets bigger. He plants more to give more away. We should do the same with our spiritual gardens. The more we grow in Jesus, the more seeds we sow, making God's garden bigger.

The next time you are gardening, remember it is a process that takes an investment but well worth the time and sacrifice. May your harvest be an abundance of blessings!