Spring is here – the air is fresh, the ground is moist, green buds are sprouting, and back on our farm in Maryland, I know that my brother-in-law is getting out the plow from the shed. Because this is the time of year we always churn the hayfield. Now we seeded that hayfield some years ago but we don’t have many horses now, and so, the field has been left to sit. And that means weeds.
Funny thing about our hayfield -- or any field -- if you let it go, if you let it sit, don’t be thinking that something good will naturally grow ’cause it is in the nature of an untended field to grow weeds, thorns, and thistles. Ah, but those weeds have seen their day – come this time next week, you’ll be able to walk out onto the plowed field and smell the sweet, dark scent of newly turned earth, all ready to welcome the sowing of new hay seed.
You know, just as it’s in the nature of an untended field to grow thorns and thistles, it is in the nature of an untended life to grow bad things. Don’t be thinking that left to ourselves, something good will just naturally spring forth from your heart. If you let your life sit, if you let it go, you just go on your merry way, assuming that the Holy Spirit within you will grow something graceful, well, you’re sadly mistaken. Friend, you have to nurture your life, you have to tend to it with spiritual disciplines of prayer and study of God's Word. Make your calling and election sure… and work out your own salvation!
I know a great verse for this; a great Bible verse for this time of year for new beginnings and new seasons in our lives. Hosea 10:12 says, “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” I like that part: Break up your unplowed ground. I know I’ve got some areas in my life that I’ve left untouched, untended-to… and weeds have been growing!
So, if you want to join me in reaping the fruit of unfailing love this season, I hope you’ll covenant with me to nurture that part of your life that you’ve let sit. It could be a prayer time you used to enjoy… or maybe a regular habit of reading good Christian books… or attending adult Sunday school, or maybe you’re letting your body just sit. Well, you, my friend, are in danger of becoming a tangle of thistles. So, plow the soil of your heart and sow for yourself righteousness and you will know what that saying means, the springtime of your soul, the time of renewal and recommitment, a time of fresh disciplines. So, plow the unbroken ground this season and get something good growing!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
© Joni and Friends