Surrounding my house exists woodchips where flower-life is planted to grow. The annoying thing about winter is that when spring rolls around, you find that other greeny plants have been growing in that plantless season - weeds. The other day my parents gave me the copious duty of tearing out those green devils from the soil they had embedded themselves in, not an easy task. I was out there for a good forty-five minutes in the merciless sun and still hadn't got done my designated section of weed digging (which was not that large, mind you).

There are a variety of parallels that I drew from my weeding experience (hey, you have to keep yourself occupied during such a boring activity!). I think first of all, one must recognize the seriousness of weeds in their own life. In plant-sense, weeds are green and deceptively look similar to their flower counterparts, but end up taking water and choking the flowers they are next too - similar in nature in the Christian walk. Some things in life appear to be harmless and may have good intentions at the get-go; however, later down the road a self-serving weed may bloom out of a simple seed. Furthermore (as I found out personally) the simplest blade of grass has roots buried deep, some not even directly beneath it.

When weeds of sin are fostered alongside good character, it becomes a conscious competition between human and Godly desire. To root out those wicked weeds, it will take patience, and even a very long time to fully get to the end of the weed. But when the weed is finally uprooted, how joyous is it! New growth is then possible where a deadened nature once thrived. Pray earnestly this day for the perseverance of treating weeds and for the want to give up the ground in your life that you've let weeds grow.

Labels: devotional