Weeding My Houseplants

You’re supposed to weed vegetable garden and flower beds… I even know of driveways and sidewalks that need an occasional weeding… but this morning, as I contemplated what to put on the china hutch that now graces my living room, I noticed that I have a few houseplants that need weeding. Yes… Weeding.

We potted them a few days ago in some recycled potting soil that has spent the summer disused and outside, and now a soft coat of something covers the soil. I am amazed at whatever this plant is… at the fact that it sat dormant and silent through the summer sun and rain, and that now, in the constant shelter of a warm house, with the food and water that is intended for my beloved plant, it has sprouted and taken over in such a short amount of time.

These little sprouts remind me of something I learned this summer about dirt and weeds and the care that we take of our gardens…but more importantly, something about my heart and its condition.

My teacher is a vegetable garden that sits neglected, but in plain view of my bedroom, kitchen and living room. I see it no matter where I am… and it is a thorn to me. (No pun intended) It constantly prods me to do something… but what? The garden is filled with a mixture of clay and shale, and there is no water here to offer it. Even the most persistent of vegetables are stunted and deformed. Yet, something is growing there.

Thistles.

They are growing in this terrible soil, with only the occasional rainfall to sustain them. The have been trampled, mowed down and burned… yet still they survive. And just like the little seeds sprouting in my houseplants, these terrible weeds remind me of something… my sins.

That neglected garden, with its rock hard soil, reminds me of my heart. When cared for properly, given the amendments, nutrients, and work that it requires, the soil softens and becomes pliable. You can dig in it, plant new seeds and remove the weeds easily. But even the slightest distraction in the constant vigilance it takes to maintain the garden causes the soil to harden and the plants to wither and die. And then the weeds take over.

Our hearts are just the same. When we get saved, God gives us a broken heart that is soft towards him. (Psalms 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.) Like a freshly tilled garden in which we can plant the seeds of righteousness. He asks us to amend our hearts with the nutrients found in His word. (Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God). He allows us to water our hearts with the tears of gratitude at what He has done or of sorrow at what we have done. (Acts 20:19a  Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations…) He asks us to repent and pull the weeds of sin as soon as they sprout, (Acts 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.) and He promises that we will be fruitful. (Colossians 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;)

Yet so often we neglect the task God has set before us. We get saved and take such tender care of our hearts…feeding and watering, removing the intrusive sins and lavishing our new lives with prayer and Bible study, with service to God, with the fellowship of other believers. We wait and watch for those promised fruits. And when we see those beautiful blessings in our lives – someone we know getting saved, our prayers getting answered.. what rejoicing!

Then as the heat comes, trials take place and burdens fill our days, we begin to neglect that tender garden. A day goes by when we don’t pull the weeds of sin and offer our hearts the food of God’s word. First one day at a time, then a couple, and finally a week has passed since we took inventory on our hearts. And during that week, the weeds of sin have sprouted and spread, the fruit in our lives has begun to wither and the soil has hardened, stunting our growth. And now, it takes twice the effort to repair the damage. But, repair it we do, and the bliss of our fellowship with God is restored!

And then the drought comes, and more trials, and again we miss a day or two reading our Bible, maybe even a church service. And this time it takes us longer before we notice those persistent weeds of sin, and when we return to care for our hearts, we notice some of the fruit has died and the garden of our heart is not as productive.

Over and over this cycle seems to go until finally our hearts are hard toward God and we no longer bother to pull the weeds. Then, much as we would break up the hardened ground with a shovel or pick, God steps in and breaks our hard heart, and offers us the chance to begin again.

Friend, how is your garden? Are you in the tender stages of your walk with God? Is reading your Bible and confessing your sins with a broken heart a joy to you? Perhaps the heat and drought of trials has robbed you of that joy and you are noticing those weeds of sin and withered fruit. Or perhaps you glance out a window here and there and think to yourself “I really should do something about those weeds… maybe tomorrow I’ll have some free time to get to it.” Is your garden soft and tender, well nourished, watered daily with tears and overflowing with fruit? Or is it time for you break up your fallow ground?

Hosea 10:12  Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

God is giving you a chance right now to tend to your heart.

Are you saved? Why not?

Is your time spent in prayer lacking? You can kneel right now before a gracious, merciful God… He is waiting to hear from you.

Have you picked up God’s word and fed your soul today? God wants to talk to you… He is waiting for you to seek Him out.

Are the weeds of sin taking over your life? Deal with the now! It’s not too late!

God is giving you a chance to humble your hearts before Him. To offer Him a garden that is free from weeds, well fed and watered and waiting to be planted with the seeds of righteousness. What are you waiting for? If you don’t break up your fallow ground, God will.

One more scripture for you to think about…

Proverbs 24:30-34  I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.