Now that we are in the month of June (now September… sorry previous written), many have already planted or will be planting a garden soon so I felt like our first new and revised “Wake Us Up, Wake Us Up, Lord” should be focused on gardening. I love to get my hands dirty with the soil, but we’re going to be deep diving into more spiritually focused topics than just plain soil. We will be planting and harvesting a garden for God. What are some of the first steps that come to mind when planting a garden? Location? Will this garden get enough sunlight and shade for the plants to sustain and be able to grow? How about soil conditions? Is the soil filled with red clay or too rocky? During this series over the next several weeks, we will be deep digging into growing a garden for God.
First thing we have to do when growing God’s garden is that we have to prepare the ground. We have to do some ground work before we even begin to start planting seeds. We have to make sure that our own gardens are healthy enough to be planting one for God. Are we in the right headspace to be planting seeds for Christ? Are we even ready to plant a garden? Are we ready for the scorching summer heat when the garden doesn’t rest in the shade? Are we ready for the cold season when there is still work to be done for Him? Before we go planting a garden for God, we have to be sure that our own character is ready to be tried and tested. The reason for preparing the ground is the way that we think that God’s garden should look like is going to be a lot different than what God actually knows what His garden needs to be like. A group of people can get together and start throwing ideas out there but if they don’t advise God first then the garden will not grow. So how do we prepare the ground? Unity.
I know that individuals will have different opinions and their characters will clash but if we come together as like-minded people then we will be able to grow a successful garden. In unity, we will grow a garden that will thrive for Christ– not for our own purposes but to lead others to Him. Our garden is not about us, it is to serve Christ and then to serve others. To grow a garden for Christ, we have to take what we have grown in our own gardens and use it for His garden. We cannot grow seeds of hate, lies, deception, abuse, etc and expect those seeds to be planted in God’s garden. In His garden, those seeds do not exist. If only we all grew seeds of love, grace, redemption, mercy, etc. then our gardens would be full of life and not weeds to be pulled out and discarded. These are good seeds to be planted not only in God’s garden but in our own gardens.
In positively preparing the ground and doing the healing to be better gardens for God, we can come as a united healed people. We are finally ready to grow positive seeds in our community and in our church. As a whole, equally united. However we have one more step before we begin our planting: executing the preparation of the ground. Planning. What will we do with our seeds next? What will they grow into? Hopefully we will use our good seeds to bring people closer to Christ so that they will have a good relationship with Him just as we have. We should not try to scare them away without personal opinions on political topics, sexuality topics, or basic human rights. How would you like to walk into a church as visitor and the first thing you see are pamphlets on abortion or LGBQT+? How about we fill our foyer with love for all that may enter our doors no matter who they are?
Wake Us Up, Lord 