Harvesting the Lessons of Summer

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

All summer long, I work intermittently on my vegetable gardens and the landscaping around the house. From April to October, planting, weeding, and cleanup keep me busy. It’s time-consuming, but the rewards are filled with joy. Family and friends love to visit my small gardens, and they delight in seeing what treasures they find.

A gardener must spend time in the garden if expecting to have a bountiful harvest. The more weeding and fertilizing done, the more produce obtained. A pastor friend once told me how thrilled his family was to buy a home with large, beautiful gardens. But, since no one in the family was a gardener, within months the weeds took over and the once-thriving plants withered. The family had grossly underestimated the time and care the garden would need. Once the gardening stopped, so did the harvesting.

A garden paints a vivid picture of our walk with God. Just like plants, our relationship with Him must be tended if we want it to flourish with joy. If you’ve ever met a Christian full of joy, I assure you that you have met a Christian who spends time “in the garden” with God. Do you have a “garden”, a place where you meet with God? It might be a quiet corner at home, a walking path, or even your commute. Praise Him for His attributes. Repent of your selfishness and pride. Speak to Him with a heart that is humble and grateful. Then, lay out your worries, fears, and requests. If this becomes a habit, you will find that you delight in the Lord more and more. Your heart will align with His more and more. You will look forward to the times when you put down the phone, turn off the radio, and retreat to your peaceful garden with God.

“In the Garden” (a hymn by C. Austin Miles, a pharmacist, in 1912)

And He walks with me

And He talks with me

And He tells me I am His own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known

He’s waiting for you!

Gloria Nelson

Teaching & Training Consultant

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"Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story..."

Psalm 107:2