By: Vivian White
Winter is drawing closer and we won’t have that much gardening to do.
However, there is a garden that needs a lot of attention every-day, and in all seasons of our lives – it is called ‘Heart gardening’, and it needs lots of spiritual fertilizer and pruning to keep it beautiful and clean. It must be so beautiful and clean that God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, will have joy dwelling in it.
Most of us are familiar with Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.”
The heart is the core of our life. It reveals our life dreams, it is where we believe. From it comes the “issues of life.” It is where we trust in our Heavenly Father or do not trust in Him. It is where we decide to have a relationship with the Father and the Son or not. “For with the heart man has faith to get righteousness…” (Romans 10:10a).
A man’s heart is not only susceptible to Godly things, but it can also be influenced by wicked things. We deal with many purposes, thoughts, imaginations and reasoning in our heart. The challenge is to let the LORD direct us and counsel us.
Proverbs 16:9: The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 19:21: Many plans are in the human heart, but the advice of the LORD will endure.
The heart of God desires to see us have a heart of reverence (devotion and respect), and then we receive His blessing.
Deuteronomy 5:29: O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Do you remember the parable of the sower taught by Jesus concerning the receiving of God’s Word? The seed was the Word of God…
Luke 8:12-15: Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. They hear the word, but then the devil comes. He takes the word away from them so that they don’t believe and become saved. Some people are like seeds on rocky soil. They welcome the word with joy whenever they hear it, but they don’t develop any roots. They believe for a while, but when their faith is tested, they abandon it. The seeds that were planted among thorn-bushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don’t produce anything good. The seeds that were planted on good ground are people who also hear the word. But they keep it in their good and honest hearts and produce what is good despite what life may bring.
What does it take to have a heart for God?
Proverbs can be helpful:
Proverbs 4:20-23: My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
It is evident that tending to our heart is very critical in seeing ourselves successfully walking with our Heavenly Father. If the seed is the Word of God, then it is important we become gardeners, good gardeners preparing the soil (our heart) to receive the Word of God. Spiritually speaking, having great meekness is a foundational principle in preparing our heart to receive God’s Word. Then we have to stay put working our hearts with God’s Word (getting rid of the weeds). If we are influenced to do other things and forget to read/study and live God’s Word consistently, then the devil can steal the Word of God out of our heart – (Luke 8:12-15). As we are consistently feeding our heart with God’s Word it will take root. And as it takes root then the cares and riches and pleasures of this life will not spoil our fruit. With patience we will produce fruit, the eternal fruit of God’s blessings.
After doing all this, the heart is prepared and ready. The gardener can then enjoy the fruit of believing the promises of God and sing and give praise to God.
Psalms 57:7: Prepared is my heart, O God, Prepared is my heart, I sing and praise.
Let’s take advantage of the simplicity of maintaining a meek heart toward God and His Word. Let’s stay faithful feeding our heart God’s Word. And as we enjoy the fruit of believing results let’s help others in the business of ‘Heart gardening.’
Happy gardening!