How Does Your Garden Grow?
1. For a garden to grow, there must first be something planted. Has that seed of righteousness been planted in your heart? This comes only from Jesus Christ for He has said I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Jn.14:6) You may say, “I already have that seed. I have been saved, washed by the blood of the lamb and know that I am a child of God.” Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Wonderful! The seed is planted and now your garden is ready to be cared for so that seed can grow.
2. Gardens need lots of sunshine. Jesus is your “Sonshine”. He gives lots of light through His Word, the Bible. “The entrance of thy Word giveth light” (Ps. 119:130) Daily spending time in God's Word is what helps your garden to grow. But Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) and Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16) If you don't take time to get to know the Lord better every day through daily Bible study and prayer, then your garden is going to die.
3. Gardens also need rain. Rain is not always a pleasant thing. Too much rain can even be a bad thing, but God knows just how much rain we need in our lives. Trials and problems are often allowed by God to help you to grow and God has promised to bring good out of it. Romans 8:28-29 says that ALL things work together for GOOD to them THAT LOVE GOD…in order that we might be conformed to His image. These things will cause you to be more like Him. So thank God for the “rain in your life and keep on doing right. The rain will come to pass and you may see tremendous growth in your spiritual garden.
4. You also need to check for weeds and bugs in your garden every day. What is hindering your growth? Is there sin in your life that should not be there? God's Word says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Are you putting off the old man in order to be renewed in the spirit of your mind? Are you putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness? (Ephesians 4:22-24). As you do these things, Christ will be reflected in you and you will see fruit in your garden. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5).
5. Fencing in your garden will help to keep intruders out! How we need to guard the garden of our hearts daily! Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
6. Why not transplant some seedlings in order to extend your growing season? You may find your garden rich and full from reproducing. Share God’s Word for you never know when the seed may be planted in someone else’s heart so another beautiful garden can begin to grow. Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
7. Just as the fragrance and beauty of a garden attracts wildlife, the fragrance and beauty of your spiritual garden will attract others to the Lord. Psalms 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
So how does your garden grow? Is it? Check up on your garden today. Do you know Jesus? If so, is Jesus your daily “sonshine” through daily Bible reading, prayer, and practicing what God says? Are you allowing the “rain” of life to conform you more to His image? And are you keeping bugs and weeds out of your garden? Put on the new man every day and live a holy and righteous life. Share the beauty and fragrance of your garden so that others will be attracted to it. God can produce a beautiful garden in you.