What is Growing in Your Garden?

This morning I came out to work in the garden, only to find it completely grown over after my being gone a week. I kind of expected that, but what really took me by surprise was what was growing in my garden. You see, most of what was growing were plants I didn’t plant. They had blossomed out of our compost seeds that germinated. Now, it’s not that I don’t love having different varieties of vegetables, however, I only have a certain amount of space in my garden, so I have to make wise choices on what I grow there.

The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. (Isaiah 58:11)

It was pretty clear that vegetables I wanted (the ones I had actually planted) were being choked out by the ones I didn’t really care about. Isn’t that ironic? The ones I really didn’t want were the ones that were taking over. And in contrast, the ones I really did want were being choked out underneath.

This year, the soil is rich; so much is growing. But because I have limited space, I have to make a choice between which plants I want to care for and which ones I need to prune out of my garden. It is a tough choice, because they are all good. I like them all. I just can’t fit them all in.

Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. (Job 12:8a)

It is just like my heart. In the garden of my heart, I only have room for so much. What will I choose to keep and what will I choose to get rid of? There is only so much time and so much room.

• Playdates with my kids.
• Quiet time with God.
• Television shows.
• Dates with my husband.
• Magazines.
• Girls night out.
• Family weekend trips.

It’s not that any of these things are bad, necessarily. Some are good, but some are better, and some are best. There is only so much room in my life, and I have to make choices. If my primary goal is to make our home a safe place for my children’s hearts to love Jesus, then I need to pick and choose activities for them (and for me) that help encourage that.

In my garden, when I looked underneath all the unexpected squash that turned up, I found that my favorite, zucchini, was growing strong! If I hadn’t removed all the other viney squash plants I don’t think I would have ever even known it was there.

In the same way, many times I choose what is right in front of me instead of waiting for or seeking out what I really want. I make a quick decision instead of looking at what I truly want to grow in my heart. This is a huge distraction for a lot of us, pulling us away from the grace and love that God has for us.

In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. (James 1:21 MSG)

This morning, I felt God gently calling for me to decide what I’m going to allow to grow in my heart’s garden, not to just get carried away by the demands of the day and my “to do” list. He has so much more planned for me than to just pick second best. He wants me and you to experience the full joy He has laid out for us…each and every day. I hear His gentle voice asking, My sweet child,  what is growing in your garden?

Do you feel like your garden may be overgrown with the things you never intended to plant? How can you weed it out and make the choices you need to make so that you are living in God’s best plan for your life?