Tending
the Garden of Your Heart
Scripture
teaches us to “guard” our hearts. This is
because the substance of our lives flows forth from
the heart, the deepest part of us. I recently came into
a perspective of viewing our lives as “real estate”
or a “garden” that we tend. We have a responsibility
to take care of that which God has entrusted to us.
This applies to many things in life. But the greatest
responsibility that we have is our very own lives. No
one else is going to take care of the garden of your
life. No one else can make decisions that concern your
life. We each are the navigator of our own souls. We
call the shots and make the choices.
If we know the Lord, the foundational decision is to
surrender our lives to Him. But after that there still
remains much left in the wisdom department of God’s
storehouse that we need to access in order to take care
of our lives in this life. The first revelation we need
to get is that we are individually going to have to
take responsibility our own “house” before
God. So we are the house cleaners. Paul speaks to us
concerning “cleansing” our own hearts. Proverbs
speaks from the standpoint of “keeping”
our hearts.
2 Cor 7:1
7:1 Therefore, having
these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
all
filthiness of the flesh
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God.
Prov 4:23
Keep your heart
with all diligence,
For out of it spring
the issues of life.
Every piece of real estate has boundary lines. In the
same way, we all need to define our boundaries. We have
all experienced “trespassers” onto our property.
It is worth noting how Jesus says – “Forgives
us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against
us”. We trespass in other people’s lives
in ignorance many times, sometimes knowingly. But when
there is a trespass it is moving into territory that
is not yours and has the potential, and most always
does, cause hurt in someone’s life. So in relationships
it is important that we communicate with grace and wisdom,
not presumptuously thinking that we have authority to
speak whatever we feel is right. Many things that we
“see” in others, to the point that we want
to tell them about it, is better utilized in the place
of prayer. Then if the other party opens the door for
a person’s input, it is their choice and not forced
upon them. So it is healthy for all of us to have borders
and to know where they are so that we are not caught
up in a loop of pain and hurt, circling around the same
mountain again and again. There is a place of healing,
restoration and recovery. So there is a right place
for a person to separate themselves from the controlling
and presumptuous behavior of people.
In the church, many people feel more obligated to “spiritually
gifted” or “highly respected” people.
But there is a trap in this. There are many anointed,
popular or gifted people in the body. But this does
not mean that there is character just because there
is gifting or popularity. Many times people are impressed
with the anointing and gifting and suppose that everything
must be good that a person says because of this. That
is not true at all. A gift is a gift. So the young in
God can receive a gift. But it takes time to develop
character. You can learn how to receive gifts from God,
but not grow correspondingly in character and wisdom.
There is grace for the maturity. God is not going to
wait until you grow up to give you gifts! If that was
the case, then none of us would ever receive any gifts
because we are all still maturing. We all stumble in
many ways . . . but if we gain control over our tongue
there is hope! We are lovers of God growing in maturity.
If there are people in your life that keep you in cycle
of pain and hurt, then you need to examine the situation,
seek God through worship and prayer, meditate in His
Word and see if He would speak to you about some adjustments
that can be and/or should be made.
1. Establish Boundaries/Borders
Ps
147:14
He makes peace in
your borders,
And fills you with
the finest wheat.
2. Receive Revelation of the Truth of God’s Word
to Bring Deeper Levels of Freedom.
Receive the water of the Holy
Spirit through worship and prayer to soften the soil
of your heart.
John
8:32-33
And you shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
3.
Surround Yourself with People of Faith and Wisdom
Prov
21:20
There is desirable
treasure,
And oil in the dwelling
of the wise.
4. Give Yourself Space to Breathe and Make Your
Own Decisions
Matt 15:29-30
Jesus departed from
there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the
mountain and sat down
there.
