My favorite part of gardening is the benefit of quiet reflection time. While I weeded my flower beds last week, I was reminded of the parable of the sower in Luke 8:15. There Jesus explains what happens when His Word is planted in “thorny ground”. Jesus said, “And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” As I continued pulling the weeds out of my garden, I considered what the thorns in my soul might be.

I tell my girls that reading the Bible daily is something our soul so desperately needs, just as much as our physical bodies rely on nutritional food. While we may not see the nutritional benefits immediately, those fruits and vegetables are making us stronger over time and behind the scenes. The same is true spiritually when we are immersed in His Word. He is making us more resilient to temptations and trials that can hinder our growth, deep within our souls (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.”
~Psalm 19:7-9

My family and I recently began a 52 day spiritual challenge (click here to listen to the sermon called “52 days” by Jesse Flowers.) I appreciate challenges because they first require evaluation. We can’t set a new goal unless we find our own starting line, right? Using the Bible, I looked in a spiritual mirror (James 1:22-25) and found some unprofitable habits, attitudes and perspectives that needed to be adjusted, and found more time I could allocate for searching the scriptures.

“More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
~ Psalm 19:10-11

Just like tending an unkempt garden, we can use our Bible as a tool to renew our minds (Romans 12:1-2) so that we will be able to discern good and evil. We then can stay firmly rooted in Him (Colossians 2:6-7). The Lord makes our journey to heaven joy-filled when we:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Do you have weeds growing in your spiritual garden, like me? Let’s live with purpose, starting right now.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
~ Hebrews 12:1-2