Hi Friends,

I am an all-or-nothing gardener.

And by that I mean that I do absolutely nothing until the task can’t possibly wait another day, and I have to do all of it at once.

Weeding, planting, preparation… these don’t have to be stressful things. You can plan ahead, do a bit each day. You know, wisdom and all that.

But I’ve been all-or-nothing gardening for so long, I’ve come to accept it as a weakness I’ll likely have lifelong. Resignation and green-thumb mediocrity. That’s where I’ve landed.

I didn’t mean for this letter to start as a confession, but here we are.

It is tail-end of planting season where I’m at, so time is up. Saturday afternoon I bought the seeds and plants, bought compost, cleared the old leaves and weeds, prepped the dirt, planted the things, watered the things.

I know I’m making gardening sound like more work and hassle than it’s worth, but that impression would be far from the truth. There’s not a single thing I do in that garden that doesn’t make me think of God and His ways.

This weekend it came during soil preparation. You have to prepare the soil.

When Jesus spoke to the crowd in Luke 8 and gave the parable of the sower, He wasn’t just telling them what might happen as the His words hit their hearts. No; that rocky soil, that thorny area, that path where the seed might lay exposed… He’s telling them the seed is coming! Prepare the soil!

He was speaking a word of such hope to those hearers: that whatever the state of their hearts, they can change. You can pull up the weeds. You can carefully remove the thorns that choke out life.

Paul says it this way in 1 Timothy. He gives his mentee, Timothy, exhortation after exhortation to meditate, learn, turn from heresy, and “exercise himself toward Godliness” (verse 7). Paul instructs, “take heed to yourself” (verse 16). Another version translates this “cultivate these things”.

Prep the soil!

Look at the state of your heart. Be honest. What’s there? What needs the heavy plow that exposes the rocks? What needs the shovel of truth and compassion to clear the way? What needs the compost and nourishment of counsel and wise friends? What areas need cultivating to receive the Word of God?

I want every word He speaks to find my heart prepared to receive it. I want His truths to grow, grow, grow up in me.

Jesus, help me to see what needs to change in my heart. Let every last corner of my being be prepared for You. Let life spring up.

– Anna

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