Encouragement

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As children of the Lord, we all have areas in our life that is not pleasing to Him. Through out our Christian walk, the Lord will deal and minister with our heart on various issues. An area might consist of a habitual sin or even an attitude that is not in line with a Christ-like attitude. Sometimes the situation might be one that the Lord will deal with strongly or maybe it will be a gentle wooing of His Spirit. Most of us will acknowledge that the Lord’s dealings are not fun. But if we are honest with our self and others, we know He deals with us out of loving kindness and faithfulness.

It is possible to relate times of corrections to that of a garden. There are times in the life of a garden that only certain jobs are carried out. A master gardener will not plow his entire field just days before harvest time. Nor will he plant seeds in a plot of ground that is not properly prepare. Each activity in a garden has a special time and place.

This is true of the Lord also. He will not deal with our heart to create more problems. His dealings are to bring about a deeper relationship, restoration, healing and fruitfulness in our life.

One of my favorite verses is found in I Corinthians 3:9 which in the Amplified Bible says: “For we are fellow workman (joint prompters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building.

To imagine the heart as the garden of the Lord brings about a series of pictures of the Lord’s mercy and grace working in one’s life. The work is accomplished in His perfect timing. Maybe it is a season when He deals with pride in one area, or maybe at another time the dealing might be over an area that He desires to dig deeper and do a more intense work in preparation for some future event that only He is aware of at the moment.

With this picture in mind, we must ask our self are we open to His dealings? A heart desperate for more of the Lord is also open to His corrections. We know our heart and the depth of our commitment or lack of it. This question can only be answered by each of us. How desperate are you for the Lord?

Are you willing to allow Him to dig deep within your heart and show you how to stir up your fallow ground? Do we allow Him to be the vinedresser – pruning and cutting away un-necessary growth? As a Master Gardener, the Lord will work a plot of land in our heart until it is not only ready for planting, but is fertilized, watered and has the light necessary for maximum growth. As any gardener knows, it is hard but rewarding work.

The Lord has shown me a series of gardens as different as night and day. The condition of the soil of our heart or spirit is an indication of our desperateness for the Lord. Each of us must look deep inside with eyes wide open to truly see that soil condition. Is it hard or embedded with sticks or stones? Or are there boulders that indeed look larger than life. Some plots are fertile and the dirt is soft and ready for seed and seedlings.

Indeed, as it is written in the New Testament - …”we are God’s garden under cultivation.” Come and watch the interaction of an imaginary walk though a heart’s garden.

While meditating in the Lord, I heard the Lord call out to me to come and walk. Eager to spend time with Him, I hurriedly followed His fleeting shadow. “Where are we going, Lord?” You’ll see was the gentle reply I heard. As we began our walk, it seems to be a beautiful afternoon with the sun warming my back lightly, and a refreshing breeze blowing gently upon my face. What a thrill to be following close behind the Lord, casually walking with no set agenda.

Within just a short time of starting out, we were in an area of the countryside that seemed to be deserted. No signs of activity were evident anywhere close-by, especially in the soil near the pathway. The grass, weeds and vines were thick and overgrown. This place had not been touched in a very long time. There were stumps in several spots, the remnants of long dead trees which probably had broken off in violent storms in days past. I can see sticks, large stones, and even a huge boulder close by with the grass tangled around it. The soil on the edge of the path seemed to be fertile but really very hard. What a waste, I thought to myself.

Suddenly the Lord spoke for the first time since beginning our walk. “Why do you think this is a waste?” was His question.

I was surprised He knew my thoughts at first, but than realized He knew it all, even my thoughts. I tried to explain what a beautiful productive place this could be if the owner simply took the time to work at it.

“In time you will.” I heard Him speak quietly as He continued His unhurried walk. I was somewhat puzzled…someday I would? I wanted to ask Him what He meant but since He was walking on, I figured it couldn’t be very important. Eagerly, I turned to follow Him on this quiet outing.

As we continued in our journey, we quickly came to a large open area of what looked to be fertile ground. This place somehow looked so familiar. Following closely, while gazing around, I realized we were passing the remains of a garden left unattended for some time. “Lord, why does this place look so …”

My question trailed off as I realized this was my garden or at least it use to be. What happened to this place that I worked so hard on and was so precious to me? I spent time with the Lord here. The plants looked healthy the last time we were here but now… what has happened? The little garden I was so proud of is now just an old dried up field. Its rows, no longer clearly defined, were eroded by the rain and wind that has blown in my life. Even the remnants of the once beautiful vigorous plants are just barely standing. It seems like just yesterday that there was healthy growth and fruit just hanging ready for the harvest. Indeed now, all the green is gone – they are dried up, just stubble that would burn up instantly if a single lick of fire was applied to it. Why, I can even see the skin of fruit that was left on the vine too long and wasted. All of its usefulness is now gone. It’s just a dried up empty shell – really only dried up skin like that of an old tomato or pepper. How did this happen? This was once so productive, so healthy, but now! Why no one would want anything that came out of this little plot of ground. I don’t even want anything out of here. There is nothing alive, it’s all gone. It’s just dried up, a hard place where nothing can grow anymore. Oh how I have neglected this spot.

“Oh Lord, how did I get to this place?” my heart cries out. “It seems I have lost what little ground I once thought was so precious to me. You had shown me so much and I worked so hard to pull out the stick and stones. I remembered the times I had to allow Your Holy Spirit to come and actually dynamite the huge boulders that stood in the way of Your work in this small little plot. That was so painful! There was so much of the old me that had to be faced, so much litter in the area. The debris consisted of remnants of painful events and sins from my past that I held onto like little trophies. But You stuck with it and bit by bit showed me how to deal with all that was there. It was clean and ready for Your plantings. You had dug so deep and prepared the ground of my heart for all You had for me. I was so thankful, but now it seems like I have to start all over. O my Lord, please help me in this place. Help me to stir up again this fallow ground.”

Slowly, it dawns upon me that You are not looking at my failures but You have continued on Your walk just as if it was an evening stroll. You did not seem particularly upset about the dried up plot of land. You seem to keep drawing my attention to another area of my heart. I can see it off in the distance. It is not the color of dried stubble…it looks like dirt. Not just any dirt but good, healthy, fertile soil. As I draw closer to this new area I can see now this spot has been stirred and plowed. It has been prepared for planting.

Then I remember the hard times I have just recently walked through. Conflict and pain, anger and forgiveness, there have been so many issues in such a short time. So many unanswered questions I had to leave at Your throne. I also had to choose to allow You to be God in my life and the life of those I care about. I had to focus back on my spot and acknowledge that You would tend to everyone else’s little garden spot. The condition of their plot was not my concern, but Yours. I remember once again embracing the reality of my responsibility to simply pray for them and others at Your leading. But I had to allow You to tend to my little plot.

Now, I know You are still there working, just tending to a different area than in the past. Eagerly, I await Your next move. “What will You plant? Will it take a long time to grow and be ready for harvest?” Oh how impatient I am when I see a work in progress. I want to see action now! Why, the plant should have been ready to harvest yesterday! I can’t wait for everyone to see what You have accomplished in my life again.

Yet slowly it dawns on me, You are telling me it’s not yet time for the seeds to be planted in this plot. “But why not, Lord? It looks good to me.” Slowly it dawns on my heart the words I am hearing from Your Holy Spirit. It still needs more work and there is even a need for rain to moisten the soil.
“But Lord, rain usually means a storm. I am so tired of storms in this area. Won’t the seeds grow even in this?” But the reality sets in on my spirit, if I want a healthy growth and excellent fruit than I must wait. To plant now would only bring in a small portion of the harvest in my life.

“Okay Lord, I know You are right. I trust Your judgment and I release my little plot into Your care. You have already accomplished so much in it. I know You will continue to care for it as much in the days to come as You already have. I trust You Lord even in this.”

Off in the distance, a gleam of green waving in the slight breeze catches my attention. As I begin walking toward it, I can see more and more green. Plants, beautiful plants in long straight rows are flying freely in the gentle wind.

“Why, is this plot in my heart, Lord? I don’t remember being here before. These plants are wonderful and so healthy?”

I can see the beginnings of buds. It would not be long before the flowers would bloom and the fruit would begin to grow. There would be a harvest shortly.

“How lovely, but how Lord? When?” Then slowly I remembered the dealings of just a short time ago. You had shown me areas I had long closed my eyes to. You had revealed hidden sin, pride and even un-forgiveness. It had been so hard but we walked through it together. I remembered now how I cried out for help and how painful it was to look at all the junk in my heart.

“Is this what it accomplished? Oh Lord, I had no idea. All the pain was agonizingly hard. I did not think it would ever be over. I did not want to even think about time frame in my life again and now I can see where You took something ugly and in a split second of Your divine time You have accomplished what I never could.” You gently chuckle as You watch my amazement!

“O, I thank You Lord. You are so awesome and faithful.”

“Walk a little further, My child.” I hear You speak tenderly into my heart.

As we walk further into this vast beautiful green spot, I become conscious of plants that have already bloomed, and the fruit is growing. A little further on, there is fruit, full grown, and ready to harvest. It is beautiful. Within a few seconds, I can see a few close friends walking in this place. One by one I see them stopping and admiring, some even bend down and pick a piece of fruit and take a bite out of their prize.

The Lord suddenly brings to mind a portion of Scripture studied long ago. The Israelites, when walking past a field ready for harvest, could reach and grab a handful of fruit from his neighbor’s field. The Lord would not let them harvest their neighbor’s field but they could enjoy a taste. It was a beautiful picture even than to me of His provision to not only the laborer but to those who have the chance to benefit from the lessons learned from someone else.

Suddenly, I was filled with a great humbleness and humility by this very picture. Who am I that my Lord could use me to provide a friend, or neighbor with a bit of nourishment? Overwhelmed by everything I had seen, both the good and not so good brought me to my knees and a place of deeper surrender.

“I am Yours, Lord. I don’t want to be a heart un-yielded and unproductive as the first field I stood in and I long for the other unproductive plots to be worked into a place of fruitfulness as I stand in now. Work in my heart Lord, as never before. Use Your Holy Spirit to blast the boulders and roots left by my past and my un-submissive heart. Dig deep and show me how to stir up the fallow ground within.” Weeping as never before, I cried out in my desperation

My mind flicked back to the first field I stood in and how dismal it looked. It was an area yet to be touched. I understood in a new way the importance of yielding to the Lord. A deep thankfulness arose in my spirit as I realized He had shown me the worst first. It was hard to look back and remember the condition of that plot, but the memory of the last plot instilled a hope in me that all was not lost.

My Father has shown me areas that I am surrendering to Him. Even as He ministers to my heart, I come to reality that this would be an on going process. The fruitful area of my life I was now standing in would need more work and replanting in the future. I am His garden under cultivation. The work of the Lord will continue as long as I am yielded and allowing His dealings.

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