I planted a garden so that it could feed me and my family, not the other way around, but here we are. My garden though it’s pretty, is getting low yields, and the veggies aren’t that good. It’s been a while since I gardened, so I should have put more preparation into studying the process. I went back to the drawing board and Google to see what was up. I found that the plants that I have are heavy feeders. They need fertile soil, lots of food, and water.
EXCREMENT AND BLOOD
Through my google exploits, I discovered that though I’ve done the pruning and watering, I’ve not been enriching the soil properly. My yield is small, doesn’t taste good, nor is it that colorful. Off I went to the store to grab some fertilizer and soil enrichment products, which are mostly animal excrement and blood. After spending more money than had I bought a couple of pounds of vegetables, I brought them home and watered them into my garden. I had been doing a lot of the right things but was reaping only what I was sowing. I was receiving a harvest of sickly vegetables because I wasn’t sowing nutrients into my garden.
…whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
PROBABLY A PARABLE
I can directly equate this gardening principle to my Christian life. We create healthy spiritual soil by studying God’s word and spending time in his presence. Those two factors are very easy to do and, therefore, easier to neglect. Excrement resembles things that are no longer needed; God designed them to be cast off and reconstituted to enhance new life. The blood of Jesus made spending time with him possible. It cleanses us from our sins, preparing the soil of our hearts to receive Him. We can be doing all of the right things but not have any sweetness in our lives because we are neglecting our spirits. When I read my Bible and pray, I enrich the soil of my spiritual life. I can sink my roots and draw spiritual nutrients so I can have a strong spirit. A healthy spirit can take us through the worst of times, but if our spirits aren’t reliable, that’s when life becomes unbearable.
A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
Proverbs 18:14 English Standard Version (ESV)
MISSING THE SWEETNESS
Let’s keep this as a little reminder that even though it’s easy to neglect, we can miss out on the sweetness and goodness in our lives and our work by fertilizing our spiritual ground. Everything we want to become grows from that ground. The water is necessary, the pruning is essential, but without the nutrients, our spirits won’t thrive. Let’s not forget the word of God (the Bible) and his presence in our lives. God promises that his word will produce in Eisaia 55:11.
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
Isaiah 55:11 English Standard Version (ESV)
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
PRAYER
God, I want to be a spiritually fruitful person, but it’s impossible without you. I purpose to spend time in your presence as you show me things I can cast our of my life that will fertilize my future growth. I choose to make time with you each morning and spend time in your word, the Bible. These are nutrients that enrich the soil of my spirit. I want to thrive even in a season where others are starving. I want to have enough to share with others and show them how to get their own. Help me to give my spirit the nutrients that I need to make it through this life with power and grace. I love you, Lord!
