Right now in our lives, our society, I think a lot of us are looking for a do over. We want a fresh start. Whether it’s with a marriage, a job, finances, as friend or parent, or just with ourselves. Personally, it’s with a lot of the above. We can always improve on things in our lives. However, we don’t want to admit the past existed. We want that “do over”. It helps us to believe that the slate is wiped clean and that we can keep imagining that we are trying to be perfect, to do things right this time. But we will never succeed at that. Things that happened will always be there and they will help us grow to be better people for Christ.
We need to look back at who we were or are, and realize what we should be. We can then listen to our Father’s words and remove things in our lives or change things to become what He wants us to be. Boy, is this not easy for me. I don’t always want to give up my me time. But sometimes I know the t.v. should be off and I should be in my quiet time with him.
I know when I need him. But my body is full of sin that I need to shed. I need to grow out of this sinful skin.
With Spring around the corner, here we’re starting to mow the old dead grass. I’m watching the grass begin to turn green with all of the rain we’ve had. It’s a wonderful gift to see His new creations bloom around us. We’re watching things start to bud and having to pick up dead tree branches falling off of the trees that are making room for new ones.
“ I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” John 15:1-2
It doesn’t mean that the old beautiful fall leaves are forgotten, because they will come again as will many seasons of our lives. But God will continue to cut away the bad and prune our soul as to prepare for the new life within us.
What are some fun things you are doing to get ready for spring? What are some of your favorite things about spring and the new life it holds?
by Leigh, the Funky Faith Girl
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This is beautiful – thank you. Yes, trusting God to redeem a situation is much harder than trusting Him to perform a miracle out of nothing. Thank you for your encouragement.
We go buy lots of plants that will then be dead in a few weeks. Hahahaha! Just joking. Sort of. We live in an area with a very difficult climate. For example, right now we are in the middle of a severe drought ( 11/100ths of an inch in the last 6 months). But there is something so hopeful about Spring, about the rebirth of things. The pruning is hard work. Especially when it is “being done” to you. But the Lord, in all His Mercy and Grace, knows how best to make us look like Jesus. And so we say, “Yes, Lord. Do what needs to be done. Thank You for the fact that everything You do is done in the most Loving way possible.” And we wait for Spring.
Love this post! I’m in such a season of seeing the old “me” stuff falling away and feeling the growing pains and the grace moments of the Lord’s working out His good plans for my life and my family. It’s exciting to welcome spring, both in the literal sense and the spiritual! Love seeing the seeds the Lord has been cultivating break through the surface of life, displaying His glory and His faithfulness!
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We had a rare 85 degree day not long ago (and snow yesterday!), and I spent that warm day cleaning the junk out of my flower beds. It was so rejuvenating to be removing the old and dead in preparation for the new life just peeking out of the ground. What a great post, thanks for sharing!