Weeds

I find it absolutely amazing, and quite intriguing, how many things in God's creation we can relate to with the life and walk of a Christian...or even just things of fact in the world.

I was pulling weeds from our brick steps yesterday, and for whatever reason it made me think of Christians; of good and evil. Weeds grow so easily, and in the places you would least expect them to. They rarely need water or good soil to grow, they just start from a tiny little seed and take off growing and spreading. Like sin in this world. It doesn't need a lot of time or pushing to get started, and when it has begun, it spreads like wildfire. It takes over churches, ruins families, friendships and lives of all who let a small seed of lies dwell in them. Now, also like the weeds, sin cannot be gotten gotten rid of completely (at least not yet,) but we can make the choice to weed out certain things in our life that try to spring up. Anything that is not of Christ must be pulled from our life so He is all people see.

Who likes to see a bountiful garden, only to look closer and find a mound of weeds among the fruit? As is our life...it means nothing to be a Pharisee, to have a perfect life on the outside, yet be rotten and covered with weeds on the inside. God has commanded that we all must die to ourselves to be able to live for Him. I have failed so often with letting my wants and wishes go for the cause of Christ, slowly I have been realizing all of the weeds that I've let grow in my heart, and I am praying every day for God to pull them all out, even if it means some pain or discomfort on my part. Those weeds are like vines, they are wrapped tightly around me and my life, the things I say and do...and I cannot just wish upon them to leave; they must be pulled, roots and all, for them to be gone and not come back.

Little things here and there will pop up when Satans seeds fly into my heart and mind, but I pray with all of my heart that I will catch them before they become a part of who I am. To be free of weeds is a freeing feeling! God can use more weed free Christians, ones who are willing to let Him pull all of the junk from our lives...but we must ask Him to, make the choice to change.

This past week something happened to me, I don't really know what to be honest, but God moved in my life and for the first time ever, I have been given a freedom from so many fears and worries... Things that I have had all of my life. I have been able to go through the day being happy, thinking of Him, and spending more time and energy on praying and doing for others. I only pray God will let this last, and when I start trying to deal with things on my own that God will stop me, and remind me how it felt to be so afraid.

"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22

He can free us from anything we ask Him to; whether it be:
-Fears
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" -Psalm 27:1
"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" -Psalm 56:3-4
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." -Matthew 10:28
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." -2 Timothy 1:7

-Worries
"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22
"God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble." -Psalm 46:1
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." -John 14:1
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:34
"I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth." -Psalm 121:1-2

-Insecurities
"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” -1 Samual 16:7
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." -Collosians 1:15-16

-Anger
"A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated." —Proverbs 14:17
" Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." —Proverbs 14:29
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." —Proverbs 15:1
"A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."
—Proverbs 15:18

-Bitterness.
"Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good."
Job 21:25
"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." -Hebrews 12:15

I have had all of those, and believe me, they will not leave unless we ask God to take them. I have held onto so many things in my life with a tight grip, and God is finally getting through to me that I must let them go.

"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?" -Exodus 15:11

"The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him." -Exodus 15:2