Weeds

My husband and I have been intentional about planting low maintenance shrubs and flowers in our flowerbeds. I actually love working in the yard but time is a valuable commodity, so we can't afford needy vegetation at this point in our lives. My husband is diligent about spreading a thick layer of mulch to keep the weeds at bay, but that doesn't stop the pine tree from shedding and insistent dollar weed and other unwelcome varieties of weeds from taking over.

About 2 months ago I spent the better part of a Saturday in cleaning out the front, filling 4 large bags with yard waste. The pristine appearance was entirely pleasing to me as I relaxed on our front porch after the work was completed.

That night it rained, covering my clean beds with a fresh layer of pinecones and needles. And then 3 days later up popped a new crop of weeds. There went my potential yard of the month recognitiion.

Don't you find this happens with your life? Spend a decent amount of effort in eliminating bad habits and unattractive attitudes and think you're set. In no time they're back, making you think that you have no control over yourself at all. Actually, you're right. Without the strength from the Holy Spirit, you are fighting an uphill losing battle.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Romans 8:26-27)

No, you can't blame God for your failings. You have ownership in how you choose to act, but to act independently from God is foolish. God has already promised His help and is waiting for you to tap in to His strength and wisdom.

Keeping flowerbeds trimmed and weeded is an ongoing process, much like keeping bad habits and attitudes under control. Maybe you'll find a "Heart of the Month" sign waiting for you in heaven, if you're humble enough to ask for help.

Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008 by Gloria Ruppel

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2 comments (Add your own)

1. tbb wrote:: This goes for repentance, too, correct? We often don't know specifically of all the sins we have committed during the day, so when we pray in the evening, we often have to make a "broad stroke" repentance to account for all the transgressions we have committed during the day. While we should strive for making a mental note and repenting specifically, it is often not possible to remember everything. It always seems like a cop-out to me to ask for forgiveness in a general way...but I know that it is not realistic to remember everything.

By repenting as specifically as we can, we add mental notes of habitual sins and that allows us to strive even harder to work on that area in our life. The trick is to not to come down too hard on ourselves, as we will eventually end up in a feedback loop of constant self-worth and loathing issues that continue to grow and manifest after the same sin bites us again and again. We have to remember that we are Fallen and that it is *only* through God's grace that we are saved. Like you stated, we cannot do this alone and thinking that we can overcome habitual sins on our own is only self-deceiving.
August 25, 2008 @ 10:45 AM
2. Gloria wrote:: I have found that when I've asked God to bring to my mind specific sins or failings so I can not only confess (acknowledge my sins) but also repent (turn my behavior around), He does so faithfully. Somehow we have a tendency to excuse ourselves because of ignorance, youthful adventure, or immaturity, and this glossing over sins doesn't seem to indicate a humble attitude.

I've experienced a significant amount of freeing from ongoing guilt as I've asked for God to forgive me and to strengthen me next time the same temptation arises. When satan stirs up guilt over a forgiven sin, I can stop him in his tracks by saying, "Can't get me with that. God's already forgiven me!"

My eternal life is won already because of Jesus. I simply want to live so that my God is delighted by a life that honors Him.
August 27, 2008 @ 2:49 PM

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