Dear Friends,

Lately that nice little plot in our backyard where we tried to grow a vegetable garden last year has been calling my name, and I am trying to ignore it, largely because we failed so miserably last time. Besides the shadowy nighttime varmints and creepy crawling things that came out in broad daylight to devour everything from stems to leaves to barely budding fruit, we had to contend with mysterious diseases that left us wondering what in the world we had gotten ourselves into. Those, however, were the least of our worries. What really sabotaged our efforts and gives me pause when I think of trying again, is the layer of sandy clay in our soil that kept the roots of our plants from going deep enough and stunted their growth.

This came to me when I was studying our Living Loved passage this week and pondered the words in Paul’s prayer about being rooted in God’s love. I thought I’d pass on to you a few of the things my garden is teaching me about what that really means:

WE WILL REAP ACCORDING TO THE SOIL IN WHICH WE SOW: Last year we prepared for our garden by digging up the soil a good two feet down, assuming that was deep enough. We now know it wasn't. In order to have any success, we are going to have to go even deeper this time and replace all that sandy clay with the luscious black soil you pay a fortune for at Home Depot. In the same way for each of us, there are hardened layers in the soil of our hearts that aren't always apparent, but definitely need to be plowed up over the course of time. And just when we think we've gone deep enough, another layer appears. This is why I am excited that we are taking a year to focus on Living Loved. Though our zeal may ebb and flow, every time we open our hearts and allow the Spirit to dig deeper, our thoughts and plans, passions and purposes, decisions and dreams become more firmly rooted in the rich soil of God’s infinite love.

WE SHOULD EXPECT OPPOSITION: If I’d had any idea when we planted our vegetable garden that we would face such varied and at times vicious assaults on our efforts, I would have been far more pro-active with the process. In the same way, it helps to be aware that we have enemies –hidden and those not so hidden – that will fight us at every turn as we seek to live in God’s love. Not only does the evil one oppose us with lies and accusations that cause us to question God’s pleasure in us, but there are issues in our own hearts that can be equally damaging. For example, I learned from an early age that I could garner the attention and approval I wanted if I just did a little more to outshine others around me. A few years ago the Lord revealed that I had brought the same mindset into my Christian walk and as a result was always striving to be a little better and do a little more. This had wreaked havoc in my spiritual life and kept me from experiencing the joy of being God’s beloved, fully accepted and approved in His sight. Though a seemingly small thing, these kinds of heart issues will stubbornly resist the roots of God’s love as it seeks to go down into the soil of our souls.

THE GARDENER OF OUR SOULS IS ALWAYS WORKING: If my husband and I do decide to plant a vegetable garden this year, we’ve been told that our first course of action should be to soak the soil and soften it to make it easier to dig as deep as we need to. This is what the Spirit of God is doing within you and me, day in and day out. The indwelling Christ is the gardener of our souls, and with every whisper of His voice, every revelation from His Word, every manifestation of His presence, God is watering the soil there so that His love will establish a root system that cannot be destroyed. Teresa of Avila, a 17th century saint wrote of the power of God's work in our souls in this way:


In any one of these visits, brief as its duration may be, the Gardener, being, as He is, the Creator of the water, gives the soul water without limit; and what the poor soul could not acquire, even if it laboured and fatigued its understanding for as much as twenty years, this heavenly Gardener achieves in a moment; the fruit grows and ripens in such a way that, if the Lord wills, the soul can obtain sufficient nourishment from its own garden.
That plot in my backyard keeps calling my name, and frankly, I’m not sure it’s going to be worth the effort to get that garden going. I do know though, that nothing is wasted when working alongside of Christ in the garden of my heart. Being rooted more deeply in His love produces an eternity of fruit – for my pleasure and God’s glory – the value of which cannot be overestimated.

Blessings as you continue in seeking to Live Loved this year. If you've gotten off track or are just joining us, click here for a review of the plan.

In Christ,

Tricia



Tricia

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