Tilling the Soil

The picture shows my garden after I tilled it for the winter months. I bought a new tiller and enjoyed my first go with it. The process of tilling the soil turns the ground, bringing up rocks and weeds. Hardened ground is loosened. I also mixed in some fertilizer to add nutrients to the soil. All of this enhances the environment next spring and summer for vegetables to produce a bountiful harvest for our table!

Staring at this garden, I realize there are strong similarities to this garden and my deep heart. Just as I need to till the soil to prepare it for future growth, I need to make sure my heart is regularly tilled to allow maximum growth in life.

For myself, the most important garden in my soul is my relationship with my Creator and Savior. In my relationship with Jesus, HE is truly the gardener of my soul. He tills my heart from time to time with trying circumstances, changes in my normal routine, and moments of gentle whisperings. 

I still have hard places that need tilling, and rocks and weeds that need to be removed. How about you? What is the status of the garden of your soul? Do you present yourself regulary to the Gardener of your heart, allowing him to till, remove rocks and weeds and soften hard places so that new seeds can be planted, watered, and grown? 

What is the result? The fruit of the Spirit, the bountiful harvest of the Lord's work in your life. Galations 5:22-23 says, 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

If you see this fruit lacking in your life, perhaps you have a hardened heart in need of tilling.

I know I do.