"Are There Weeds In Your Garden?"

by Nancy Sebastian Meyer

“But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful.”  Mark 4:19

I will never forget the lesson I learned while weeding my front flowerbed last year. By the walk, a dwarf mugo pine was almost obliterated by a covering of dark green, glossy leaves. I call it “the vine that will not die” because no amount of pulling or weed killer finishes it off—it comes back several times every growing season and quickly overwhelms everything in its path.

As I pulled handfuls of this lush, vibrant vine from around the mugo, I thought how much more healthy the weed looked than the bush it covered! If I had based my selection on which plant looked better, I would have pulled out the pine.

My life offers a similar predicament when I allow my priorities get out of hand and put good activities ahead of God’s directives. Going out for coffee with friends can be mutually encouraging, or it can get to be something that expends time and energy I need for family responsibilities.

How about you? What in your life is sapping your strength and energy? Why not take inventory? What might seem so good at first glance may actually be taking away from something much more important. Take a look at the garden of your life. Identify the good plants set in place by the Gardener. Then look for the pesky weeds that need to go—even if they look robust and beautiful. Remember: in His timing, the Gardener will perfect His plan for your life.

Copyright © 2008 - Nancy Sebastian Meyer. All rights reserved.
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