by Cindy Phillips
The recent rains have really boosted growth in the garden. Unfortunately, the weeds benefitted, too. Weeds rarely appear overnight. They begin as small, almost unnoticed growths, but if left unattended, they compete with healthy plants for light, water, and nutrients. As I pulled the weeds, I thought on my walk with God.
Our spiritual lives can subtly be influenced by “weeds” that compete with our fruitbearing. Unwelcome attitudes, distractions, habits, offenses, worries, or compromises often start small. If we ignore them, they gradually crowd out our joy, peace, and closeness with God. We need to lay aside the things that try to ensnare us and take our focus off our God (Heb 12:1)
Jesus taught that the condition of our heart matters Prov 4:23. The seed of God’s Word is meant to bear fruit in our loves, but the “cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:18-19) can choke spiritual growth if we allow them to take root.
The good news is that God invites us to regularly examine our hearts (Ps 139:23-24). Through prayer, repentance, and time in His Word, the Holy Spirit faithfully reveals the “weeds” that need to be removed. As we surrender them to Him, He makes room for His fruit to grow—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).
Don’t wait until the weeds crowd out your fruit and become visible to everyone else. Tend your heart daily. The closer you stay to the Lord Jesus Christ, the quicker you’ll recognize what doesn’t belong, and the more fruitful your spiritual life will become.