by Marilyn Ehle
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. ?It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. ?It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
Where I live in the western United States, it has been a winter with relatively little snow and a spring crying for rain. Fire danger is high as the slightest spark produces unimaginable loss to life and property. As I drive the streets of our city, gray-brown yards stretch endlessly. And then—almost magically—there appears a yard with brightest green grass. What produces this lawn that flourishes even in drought?
How can Christians remain “ever green” in the midst of the seemingly endless drought of discouragement or the sudden and unexpected fiery trial? Perhaps advice for growing good grass has more spiritual application than we guess.
1. A good gardener knows the makeup of the soil. Many of us shy from taking a long look at ourselves for fear of exposing ourselves to ourselves. But basic to understanding ourselves is understanding that God loves us “as is.” Author David Benner* writes, “Genuine self-knowledge begins by looking at God and noticing how God is looking at us… God loves each and every one of us with depth, persistence and intensity beyond imagination.”
2. Soil preparation is crucial. One expert says, “(dig) the soil deeply…remove stones and debris…” Spiritual tilling can be painful. Confessing sin that the Holy Spirit reveals is a first step in our pursuit of ever green lives. But a good spiritual gardener goes a step further: discovering the sin behind the sins. Quoting Benner again: “Discovering our core sin tendencies is helpful because it lets us deal with our problems at their root.” Merely cutting off weeds in tilled soil only makes for a better appearance. Digging out root systems lays the groundwork for verdant lawns. And abundant living.
3. Green lawns mean proper amounts of fertilizer and water have been applied. Both these elements are expensive and their application is time consuming. So it is with what we add to our lives in the pursuit of fruit bearing. Spiritual growth requires expensive time. Time we choose to spend in quiet sitting with the Lord to hear His slightest whisper. Or time spent in diligent study of the Bible, asking questions, seeking answers.
Homeowners who have ever green lawns spare no time or expense. Am I as committed to becoming an ever green Christian?
*The Gift of Being Yourself by David G. Benner
You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2011/05/28/me_ever-green-christians/
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Short Thoughts for Cell Phones – God-daily.com
