Cultivating Conditions for Growth
I LOVE plants.
I am convinced that the delight we humans get from cultivating plants and watching them grow is a connection to our first parents, Adam and Eve. They were given the responsibility of caring for the Garden of Eden and ‘filling and subduing the earth’ (Genesis 1:28). Genesis also records that Adam was made from the dirt. Whether you are an avid gardener or someone with a self-proclaimed ‘black thumb’, I believe that there is always something to be gained from having our hands in the soil, seeing things grow ‘up close and personal’. Recent studies even show that there are natural anti-depressants in soil!
In addition to the delight I receive from gardening as a hobby, God often uses my time ‘in the soil’ to teach me powerful lessons through the imagery of how plants grow and thrive. I cannot count the amount of times that the Lord has spoken to me in this way! From cultivating the ground to planting, fertilizing and watering, even pruning - there are wonderful spiritual parallels to be gleaned.
One such parallel that has struck me recently is the difference between a plant that is lacking nutrients and a plant that has been placed in ideal conditions for growth. What a huge contrast! When a plant is struggling, a number of things could be going wrong. It’s home in the soil could be getting too dry or too wet. Maybe the plant is not receiving enough light. Or maybe it’s ‘home’ has become depleted of vital nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, etc).
In contrast, the plant that is thriving has everything that it needs. There is a gardening rule of thumb that can be summarized as, ‘right plant, right place’. When a gardener understands the way a plant is designed and what it needs, and mindfully plants it in a location where it is receiving all of these things, the plant will be very happy! In these conditions, it will flourish and reproduce.
As our designer and creator, God knows the conditions in which we as humans will thrive, bloom, and produce fruit.
As I wrote in my previous blog post, we find a wonderful word-picture of what a thriving child of God looks like in Psalm chapter 1. “He will be like a tree planted by streams of water…” (v3). He is planted in the right place. The location in which we will flourish is a place where we are well-watered. What does that mean?
In the previous verses, we read that the flourishing believer delights in God’s law and meditates on it day and night. The Hebrew word law is torah, which means law, teaching, or instruction. In other words,
“…direction, instruction, but also law, because it contains the authoritative principles and instructions which are to guide men’s lives.”[1]
What does it means to meditate? Bible.org has a great definition:
“This is a comprehensive term for the study and application of the Word to one’s life. It involves thinking about what Scripture means and how, when, and where it should be applied. Included with this would be reading, hearing, study, and memorizing so one can accurately think about Scripture and apply it.”
I believe that the water this passage is speaking of is the Word of God. When we are anchored in and applying the truths of Scripture to our lives, we place ourselves in conditions to thrive.
How is God’s Word like water?
Water is the vital source of refreshment and nutrients which sustains everything on earth that is alive. Without water, plants shrivel up quickly and die.
The human body is made up of 60 – 70% water. We constantly lose water through the body’s natural processes and must continually replenish. The effects of dehydration can be severe and worsen the longer we go without water. According to an article on BBC, the effects of dehydration are these:
“Your kidneys send less water to your bladder, darkening your urine. As you sweat less, your body temperature rises. Your blood becomes thicker and sluggish. To maintain oxygen levels, your heart rate increases…As dehydration worsens it can affect how our brains work, disrupting our mood and our ability to think clearly. The blood flow to our brains, and the brain volume itself, reduces. Mild to moderate levels of dehydration – a loss of 2% or more of body water – can impair our short term memory, our vigilance, arithmetic ability and coordination skills, particularly when performing strenuous activities in hot environments. Some studies, mainly in elderly patients, have also found that dehydration can play a role in delirium.”[2]
Eventually, a body deprived of water is at critical risk of shutting down.
In the same way, a believer who is deprived of a regular intake of God’s Word is in a dangerous place.
Without the water of the Word, we grow weak and susceptible to deception. We begin to believe the lies of the enemy, our flesh, and the culture around us. We become more vulnerable to temptation as we cease to renew our minds with the truth as God defines it. We may also lose our spiritual vigor and become more and more focused on self-preservation and selfishness rather than serving God and others.
In contrast, a believer who is consistently well-watered by God’s Word receives everything that is needed for a godly life (2 Peter 2: 1-3). Even in the driest, most difficult times of life, we will have a source of refreshment that keeps us spiritually hydrated. Promises of God’s Word will be readily available in our minds for use. The truths found in the Word are the basis by which we can discern what truly is error, falsehood, and sin. The wisdom found in the Word gives us discernment for life’s choices and keeps us on the path of righteousness that honors God. Perhaps most of all, we are continuing to learn of God’s true character as he reveals himself to us personally.
The ‘right place’ for a believer is ‘planted by the stream of water’ that is God’s Word.
Just like we cannot expect a plant in the wrong growing conditions to put on healthy new growth or blooms, we cannot expect to grow and flourish spiritually without being in the Word. The reality is that we must choose to place ourselves in ideal growing conditions near that stream. No one will do it for us. It will not happen on its own; we must be diligent in planning, in guarding time, and in asking God to help us see the true condition of our souls without Him. I don’t know about you, but my sinful heart tends toward wanting to do other ‘more important’ things.
How many times have I bemoaned the fact that my plants have died or not produced as I have expected, when the truth is that it is usually not the plant’s fault! Most of the time it is simply that I have not been diligent in giving it what it really needs.
I invite you today to take the opportunity to evaluate the quality of your regular times with Jesus. Maybe sit down with a cozy, hot cup of tea (or maybe a pumpkin spice latte for fall!) and a journal for a while.
How does your soul feel right now? Withered or well-watered? What do you think makes it so?
How would you rate your level of satisfaction in your times of tapping into the stream of God’s Word?
If you could design your ultimate ‘daily quiet time’, what would it look like?
What choices do you need to make in order for that to be accomplished?
[1] Psalm 1: Two Ways of Life -- A Psalm of Wisdom | Bible.org
