I have always loved flowers, beautifully landscaped yards, and lush gardens! The ocean is beautiful, but I will have to confess that the beautiful mountain scenery is where I escape into a place of peace and rest. All the varieties of God’s trees, bushes, and flowers bring serenity to my soul that give me a tiny glimpse into what I believe heaven’s landscape will be like.
In the summer of 2018, my husband Larry retired, and I semi-retired. Since then, gardening has become my happy place. I can’t wait each spring to see everything bud and spring forth. We live on a small corner lot in town with limited yard space, but we have planted to my heart’s content. I point, and Larry digs holes for new bushes and flowers each spring. I believe he has come to enjoy the fruit of our labor as much as I.
I wish I could profess to be a great gardener, but I will have to confess it’s a process of trial and error. I’ve watched with great anticipation many times for flourishing blooms, only to be disappointed with no growth. I am learning that there are methods and tools to help your garden thrive and not just survive.
The Lord has taught me so much as I garden about life. I realize some of the same principles we use to garden are so necessary for us to grow spiritually. Here are the main necessities in a successful garden.
Soil
I read that soil is the most important aspect of gardening. Where the plant abides and what kind of soil it is planted in will determine how it will grow. Preparing and caring for the soil is vital for growth.
We learn from the Bible this important scripture:
“I am the vine ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
Recently I went to water my double impatiens in my window boxes. They had been so full and lush all summer. As I started to water, I noticed the leaves were turning yellow, and there weren’t as many blooms as usual. I took them out of the boxes, got my spade, and pushed down into the roots, only to find the dirt hard as a rock. As I dug all the old dirt out around the roots, I discovered it was totally bound! There was no room for the roots to grow.
As I poured fresh dirt and fertilizer into the pots, I remember the Lord just gave me a pause to reflect on times in my life when my smile too had faded like the leaves, and I was so bound with worry, fear, anxiety, doubt, grief, unforgiveness, and loss. Abide is to stay, continue to live, stay strong in one’s resolve, dwell, to reside. When we loosen the soil around our hearts and allow the rich soil of Christ to set us free, He is able to release the gifts of His spirit within us, and then we will be able again to bear fruit. He teaches us to abide in love.
Location
Sun or shade is so important for flowers to grow.
I had a pot of flowers that were healthy this summer, but just not many blooms. I moved them to a new location, and they wilted every afternoon from the sun; then I moved it where it got only morning sun and evening shade, and it thrived. We are so like that as individuals, aren’t we? Sometimes we are not thriving because we are not in the right environment or position that will allow us to bloom. We can get by or survive, but God wants us to live life to its fullest, yet sometimes we fail to prosper because we have not been able to recognize what is God’s best for us.
Water
You can stop fertilizing your plants, and they won’t grow as much, but if you stop watering, they will die. Farmers know this all too well, and we pray for them, especially during drought, for it to rain. We all can go through dry seasons in our lives, but I am so thankful that Christ is the living water who refreshes our souls. As he told the woman at the well, “if you drink of me, you will never thirst again.”
We need to pour in more water of the Word to quench our thirst!
Pruning
I have a prayer garden in my yard; one of the first things I planted was knock-out roses. They are so beautiful. The first bloom every year is so lush and full, but after its first bloom, if I don’t cut the old blooms off, they will not reproduce well at all in the summer. John 15:2 states:
“…every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
Dead things will hinder our growth as a Christian. There are things that need to be completely removed from our lives that keep us from growing to our fullest potential. When we take off the things of the flesh, the things of the spirit will manifest more in our lives.
Pest and Weeding
Observe and pay attention to your plants. By taking the time each day, you can notice the small changes that might appear to be from the attack of pests or diseases. If we catch them early, we can prevent them from becoming totally overcome and destroyed. As a child of God, close communion with the Father gives the Holy Spirit more opportunity to open the eyes of our hearts to the spiritual well-being of our life. Take time each day to be still and take inventory of things that are hindering us. Scripture reminds us of the “little foxes that spoil the vineyard.” (Song of Solomon 2:15)
Staking
I have a climbing rose bush that has nearly climbed to the top of the gable on the house. It is attached to a trellis, but I quickly realized it needed to be staked to help it stand. The weight of the long branches was too much for it to stand, so it needed support to help it continue to grow. Aren’t we like that? Sometimes the weight is too much for us, and we need someone to lift us up and help us carry the load. We learn from God’s Word that “two is better than one, and if one falls, we have another to lift us up.”
Maintain
I have discovered something about me as the mild and beautiful spring days slip away and the summer heat explodes like a fireball. I get lazy. I lose my enthusiasm for my precious, joyful garden. What was a thrill to do every day has become mundane, too hot to maintain during the scorching days of August. I start anticipating cooler temperatures and falling leaves. I fail to do the work needed to enhance the gardens, so weeds get thicker and higher, dead heads hang on branches, and some just die of thirst.
Life is like that too! We tend to throw in the towel or so often faint in the heat of the battle. However, we are encouraged by the Word of God to “press on toward the mark of the high call of Christ Jesus.” I am so thankful that “His mercies are new every morning and that the joy of the Lord is our strength.” God loves us with everlasting love! He never gets tired of well-doing. He watches us every day in close proximity and gives us a way of escape from the attacks upon us. He longs to refresh our dry and thirsty land with a drink of water from the throne of God. He is the gardener of our soul, and His Holy Spirit will tend to our land forever.
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3
My prayer today is for you to thrive and not just survive where you are planted.
Diane Mann
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#dianemannblogs
