When the Vines Choke Out Life

 

I am not gardener. I've mentioned multiple times that a black thumb or green thumb are not my issue. I am a smother plant mother. I see a plant and try too hard to love it, leading to overwatering, too much sun, or too much shade. This brings me to my current predicament. My husband brought in a landscape/tree removal company to clear overgrowth around our property. After two days of chainsaws, weed wackwackers, a woodchipper, our property has increased considerably. Here lies the dilemma. Along the path of chainsaw destruction is piles of undergrowth leaves and sticks. My husband works during the day and I am off briefly for summer break, so the task fell to me to remove the debris. Yay! As I tugged and pulled, my rake continued to snag on the vines and brambles that had wrapped itself around all plant life. It wasn't as noticeable until the tree people removed the overgrowth. The landscapers told us that unless we treat the parasitic vines and weeds with spray regularly, they would sneak right back in to destroy the actual vegetation. This is the way our spiritual lives are. The enemy sneaks in with anger, anxiety, fear, depression, gossip, judgementalness, etc... We have a choice. We ignore the source of these symptoms, or we confront them. If we ignore them, they spread into other areas of our life. Suddenly, a little anger becomes gossip which leads to judgemental attitudes. Our lives are trapped in things that oppose the fruits of the Spirit. Love, kindness, and peace are traded for a cheap imitation. Now, when we finally decide to remove the stifling vines, they resist. It takes time to break habits and God to tear out the things that smother His presence. The best thing is to prevent them from entering entirely. That takes daily reflection on the state of your spiritual life. Do I show kindness? Am I slow to anger and wrath? Am I slow to speak? These questions may differ for each person. When we see that there is an issue, we immediately treat that area with God's Word. What does God say about this area of my life, and how do I repair it? My challenge: preventing is way easier than cleaning up after. Trust me; it involves a lot less sweat and tears. 

Have a great week high-heeled warriors!