Not too many of us enjoy waiting, especially if we are on time and someone else is late. The longer we wait, the more frustrated we get, because we are not doing anything except waiting. Have you ever been tired of waiting on the Lord? He’s promised an answer, but…
Not too many of us enjoy waiting, especially if we are on time and someone else is late. The longer we wait, the more frustrated we get, because we are not doing anything except waiting. Have you ever been tired of waiting on the Lord? He’s promised an answer, but…
“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Matthew 13:25
Sometimes it might seem that you get up in the morning, and someone has planted weeds among your beautiful flowers. Where did they come from so fast? What happened while you were sleeping?
If we fall asleep spiritually, or slip into neutral and just try to coast along, the enemy of our souls will seize this opportunity to plant spiritual weeds in our heart. A root of bitterness will take hold, and slowly start to destroy us.
We must stay alert and on guard spiritually! Keep your eyes on your spiritual garden, and don’t let the enemy come in and plant his ungodly seeds.
Prayer: Lord, let me alert and awake spiritually. Open my eyes to the tricks of the enemy, and show me how to protect my spiritual life.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.” Proverbs 15:19
We can complain about weeds, get angry at them and even yell at them. (If talking to plants can help them grow, maybe that will work!) But if we really don’t want them around, we have to take steps to prevent them. It could be a weed control membrane that we place under the soil, or perhaps a weed control spray that we apply.
It’s the same spiritually. We are responsible for weed control in our hearts.. We may need an extra layer of prayer to protect us, or some more “washing of water by the Word”.
If we are slothful (lazy), weeds will overtake us. But if we are righteous and diligent, we will take steps to prevent and control spiritual weeds. And our spiritual garden will be beautiful!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be diligent in preventing and controlling spiritual weeds in my life. I want my heart to be a beautiful garden that You feel welcome in.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.” Luke 6:44
Not all weeds are ugly. Some are colourful and delicate. But a weed is a weed. You won’t find anything useful such as fruit on it.
Sometimes the weeds that crop up in our spiritual life seem somewhat attractive on the outside. Stubbornness may be disguised as determination, pride as self-esteem. But call it what it is. If it is not producing spiritual fruit in your life, it’s just… a weed.
It’s what’s on the inside that always counts – in plants and in hearts. Let’s make sure we don’t get fooled by a pretty package. Get to the heart of the matter and make sure you are cultivating real plants rather than weeds.
Prayer: Lord, give me discernment to know what is really growing in my life. Give me wisdom to know the difference between true spiritual fruit and pretty weeds.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.” Isaiah 5:6
The only way to stay on top of a weed problem is to prune and dig. Some weeds have roots so long and thick that you just cannot get rid of them by hand. You might need a dandelion remover or another tool.
At times we need to avail ourselves of spiritual tools to get rid of wrong things in our lives. If we did not catch it right away and it has becoming rooted in our spirit, it may take some pruning and digging.
A period of fasting and prayer may be what it takes to get back on track, and have our heart free of spiritual weeds. Or we may need to seek wise counsel from a trusted spiritual leader. Whatever it takes, get rid of those weeds!
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the tools You have provided to deal with spiritual problems in my life. I do not need to feel helpless, because nothing is impossible with You.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.” Proverbs 24:31
One of the most frustrating things about weeds is how contagious they are. You might have carefully uprooted every dandelion in your yard so it would look green and beautiful. But if the neighbour was less conscientious, all it takes is a strong wind to spread those weed seeds on your property.
Of course there is a spiritual parallel to this. You might have started your day with a wonderful time alone with God, and you feel on top of the world. But you hear a coworker start griping and complaining, and before you know it, you find something to complain about. Bad attitudes are contagious.
The key is to be alert and not absorb the wrong attitudes of other people. Keep your mind focused on God and on what is pleasing to Him. This will make you immune to the contagion!
Prayer: Lord, help me to show compassion to those who are unhappy, but not to let their feelings rub off on me. Help me to keep my mind stayed on You today.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:” Matthew 13:7
While our cultivated plants take quite a while to grow strong and healthy, it seems like weeds can spring up almost overnight. Before we know it, they have deep roots that are difficult to remove without damaging the flowers around them.
Spiritually, it takes time to cultivate a deep relationship with God and effective spiritual disciplines. But spiritual weeds can appear quite rapidly. Just a wrong look from someone, or an impatient answer, and we find anger and offense trying to take root in our heart.
We need to be aware of the spiritual weeds that try to grow quickly. Pull them up, cut them off right away. Don’t give them any chance to grow, just get rid of them!
Prayer: Lord, help me to destroy any spiritual weeds that try to quickly inflame anger or resentment in my soul. Help me to invest time in the lasting, beautiful, spiritual attitudes that are pleasing to you.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” Hebrews 6:7-8
After working hard to plant a nice flowerbed to bring beauty to our yard, the last thing we want are unwanted weeds growing up between our beautiful plants. But despite our precautions, they have a tendency to wiggle their way in. And then we have to find a way to get rid of them.
It’s no different spiritually. We commit ourselves to daily prayer and Bible reading, among other spiritual disciplines, so that our walk with God can grow and flourish. That is truly beautiful!
But weeds will try to make their way into our spiritual life. Annoyances, frustrations, disappointments and discouragements sometimes show up despite our best intentions. We didn’t ask for these situations, but we do have to deal with them. Good spiritual plants receive blessing, but weeds must be destroyed.
Prayer: Lord, help me to watch carefully over my spiritual garden, and to be on the lookout for any unwanted weeds that try to squeeze into my life.
Devotion by Liane Grant