Fruit versus weeds

I was out weeding my flower beds today. I water them first, then pull the weeds, for they are easier to get out when wet. There are two seperate areas in the front where my Salvia is. One gets the most water from the hose, the other gets some but not enough. In the first area the weeds were not so abundant and took a short time to uproot them and pull them out. On the other side they had taken over almost to the point of killing the Salvia which was tall and had been prolific with flowers. I had also had marigolds in there, but while away, the weeds killed them all. They had been neglected, allowing the weeds to take over. The weeds grow and spread their roots underground and produce more weeds. While weeding them I thought about the weeds in our lives. The sins, the people who affect us , our pasts, all the things that keep us from growing fruit and driving us further from God. The water is the Word and as we read it and have communication with God we help to remove the weeds that arise.

How do we get rid of them before they get too big? One, is we stay in the Word, which shows us the weeds and how to be free of them. Another is when a thought comes into our heads, temptation, bitterness, anger, regret, we immediately pluck it out. Also when we allow depression, anxiety, worry, fear, pride and other negative emotions to take root and grow they will overcome us. So do not entertain those thoughts and emotions. If we allow these weeds into our lives and do not take them out they will crowd out all the good things that God has for us. We need to cast these things far from us. For if they are too close they will grow up around us again and the process will begin over again.

Now flowers cannot rid themselves of weeds. They do not have the ability to do so. Same with some whose weeds have grown too big. They need help in getting rid of these things that are crowding them out and taking their water and nutrients. The gardener pulls the weeds and gives the plants a chance to root well and flourish. Jesus is our gardener. He will pull the weeds from our hearts, minds and bodies as we trust Him. As we read His Word to us, as we talk with Him, as we fellowship with others, as we cast out each impure thought, avoid each temptation He helps us to grow strong.

Because the garden is so large, He sends workers into the garden to help to root out the weeds. Ministers, pastors, priests, counselors, and all those who have had weeds pulled out of their lives.

One other thing I have noticed. During the winter these weed roots lie dormant. They are there just waiting to produce their own plants. In us there are times when the weeds lie dormant. That does not mean they are not there. Only laying and waiting. When something happens in our lives, like the warmth and rain for the weeds, it rises up and starts to grow within us. We may not even be aware of it until it breaks the surface. Someone says something you don't like, anger pops up, a memory from the past, hurt, bitterness, hate pops up. Temptation is placed before us, our flesh pops up. So many things. Let us pull them out before they grow. Let us not continue to allow them to spread their roots and crowd out all the fruit.

Remember that Jesus said that if we pull out the tares they will take the wheat with them. This can happen when the weeds get too large. We pull out the very plant we are trying to grow. So let us get those weeds out before they grow large. Let us not put ourselves in situations where weeds can grow. Do not go where you know there is temptation in an area you have or have weeds in. Even going there a root of sin may be planted.

Another thought. The plants that I mentioned are in the shade. They never get the sunlight. And they require more care. I have other plants that get sunlight most of the day. They are plants are shrublike flowers so bigger, but they do have a few weeds. We need to be in the sunlight if we are to truly flourish. Be in the light of His Word, be in the light of His love. When we venture into gray areas we are setting the stage for weeds to grow up in our lives. No matter how strong we think we are, if we let a weed grow in our lives it will choke us out. So let us do as Paul the Apostle said.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8