Skip to main content

In The Garden...Weed Control

Today’s topic is weed control, and I'm going to start with excerpts from the mowing guidelines Weed Man sent us.  “A properly mowed lawn is thicker, healthier and better able to withstand stresses like weeds, insects and diseases.” and “Weeds never quit.  They take any opening to reestablish in the lawn.”

Weeds mar a beautiful lawn and hide patiently under the soil.  Some reseed.  Others grow nodules.  And then there are those with root hairs.  That’s what I call those miniscule roots left behind when you pull up the tuberous root of a dandelion. Ugh! 

Weeds of the heart are the same.  They sprout at unexpected times and manifest in many different ways.  Fear, insecurity, worry, bitterness, and discontent to name a few.  They infiltrate the soil of our heart and pop up with a word or action that mars the beauty of our lives.

I’m learning thought control is key in controlling the weeds of my heart.  But I can’t just catch a thought and stop thinking it.  The mind of my heart must have something else to think about or I will go right back to the same old “root hair” thinking.  I have to use the Philippians 4:8 method of weed control.  Replacement therapy.

I also have to bring my thoughts into agreement with God’s Word.  Okay, that is not as easy to do as it is to type.  In fact, I’m pretty lousy at it.  I recognize when the root hair is there, but coming into agreement with God on the subject requires a renewing of my mind.  A transformation of my thought processes. 

Confession?  I want what Jesus wants, but I also want my own way.  I want to take that uncomfortable step of faith, but I don’t want to risk failure, disapproval, ridicule, or hurt.  I want to trust the LORD’s plan for me is the very best, but I don’t want to face the unknown or suffer heartache along the way.  I want to forgive, but I want the ones who did the hurting to feel the pain they caused.  I want them to get justice (even though I want mercy). 

I want to cultivate healthy growth that leaves no room for weeds!  That means filling my mind with God’s Word, learning His perspective, and daily putting into practice the things I’ve learned.  The more I allow His Word to take root, the less opening there will be for “root hair” thoughts to grow into life stealing words and actions. 

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8 (CEV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong.  Proverbs 3:5-7 (GNT)

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen. Do not make God's Holy Spirit mourn.  The Holy Spirit is the proof that you belong to God. And the Spirit is the proof that God will set you completely free. Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Don't have anything to do with any kind of hatred. Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive one another, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.  Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIRV)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2 Peter 1:2 - May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

I've been away, but I've not been idle. I've been healing and learning. Healing from all the grief our family has experienced in these last few years, and learning from the LORD during the healing process. No! I didn't quit life, but I did spend most of my time in our Heavenly Father's lap surrounded by His love and comfort. The problem was, I was a hot mess whenever I crawled out and tried to get back to living life as usual. Believe me when I tell you I've cried a lot of tears, but God was there to capture each one and continued to love and comfort me. He was also there to pick up the pieces when I unexplectedly boiled over like oatmeal. Believe me, it was just as messy and just as hard to clean up.  Please don't misunderstand, it wasn't because the people in my life weren't there for me, but many of them were grieving too. Each death brought more grief, bringing me to a place where I finally realized I needed someone to help me see my way forward....
2 comments
Read more

1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.

Okay, call me crazy, but this is where my mind is today.  Everyone of us who has confessed with our mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in our hearts God raised Jesus from the dead, are saved (Romans 10:9). All believers are IN Christ. We are IN Him, He is IN us, and He is IN the Father. You can check it out for yourself in John 14:20. Every believer is IN Christ. Thinking about being IN Christ and a part of His body got me thinking about how a body is filled with cells. Well, you know me, I had to do a Bing search and find out what I could about the anatomy of a human cell and its function. This is what I found: "The human cell is the basic unit of life that can replicate itself." There are trillions of cells in one human body and they don't all have the same purpose or function within the body. But no matter what the purpose or function, every cell must replicate. No exceptions! Okay, translate that into us being cells in the body of Christ. We are not all th...
Post a Comment
Read more

James 4:2b - You do not have because you do not ask.

  Prayer is having a conversation with our Heavenly Father. Talking to Him is giving Him our time and attention. It's acknowledging Him as our Father, our Creator, our Provider, our Protector, and the Lover of our souls. One way Father speaks to us is through His written word, the Bible, and He doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to the subject of asking. Nope! He clearly tells us to ask, and when we ask we will receive (Matthew 7:7). And then in today's verse, He tells us we don't have because we don't ask.  So why don't we ask?  I spent all week pondering that question. Short answer? Lack of confidence. Yep! I'm pretty sure that's why I don't ask as often as I should. And I especially have trouble asking for myself. Anyone else? My lack of confidence breaks down into three categories.  A lack of confidence in His desire to give me what I want. Which is totally silly! I know He delights in giving good things to His children, and He would neve...
Post a Comment
Read more