I will fully admit that my thumb is not green. I don’t think it’s even a slight tinge of the vibrant color that suggest affability with plants, flowers, etc. My mom gifted me, once again, a whole supply of hostas. Last time, it didn’t go well. I killed them. I am so excited because I don’t have to water today. RAIN. Haha.
Another issues I have with plants is vigilance to weed, care, water, etc. (Notice this is the second time I have used etc, all that is entailed in keeping plants alive…) So, we placed some hostas by the side of the house. I don’t really go on the side of the house..so to see the beautiful bush that I haven’t killed yet be invaded by this invasive, viney (yes, I made that a word) weed. I was offended. It was taking over a tree, wrapping our A/C. And so, Joshua, Noah and I spent a good hour removing the weed.
The whole time I was laughing, knowing I would come here and tell you about it. Writing illustration! We couldn’t just cut the vines away, we had to dig out the root. Any of you who are gardeners are laughing now. Duh…
Here’s what I know to be true in my life. I don’t want anything in my life that crowds out the voice of God like that dumb vine. What are our markers to know that we are not hearing his voice through his word, community, and in daily worship?
Our thoughts.
We are (okay, I am) quick to judge the men and women of the Word. How could Solomon let all those women distract and turn him from the God who gave him all wisdom? How could David turn to Bathsheba?
Our thoughts.
Solomon, in the first 10 chapters of 1 Kings, the visit from God granting him abundance that has never been seen again in wealth, in wisdom. And here it is,
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.” Solomon held fast to these in love.”
1 Kings 11:1-2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1ki.11.1-2.NASB1995
Solomon slowly turned from the abundance provided by God for the shiny baubles of foreign women who brought foreign gods and their practices. He chose to disobey, slowly. And the vines choked out the voice and goodness and justice of the Living God.
David? Look with me..
“Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.”
2 Samuel 11:1-2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2sa.11.1-2.NASB1995
What happens in the spring? Kings go to battle. (I mean, that’s what it says, I really have no expertise in these matters.) Remember who is the king? What is the expectation? They go to war. He sent people. He did not go. He was not part of the victories. Rather, we are given the contrast. BUT David stayed. I wonder how many times David played this time over and over in his mind. The slow descent. So I ask myself again.
What are the disciplines and choices that bring us closer to the Lord? And what are those that choke His voice and presence from our lives?
Ask these questions with me.
We have control over our thoughts. Maybe not the intrusive, gut punching thoughts that hit without warning, they just come. BUT the next thought after that? There’s the control. I’m not going to dwell with that thought.
It’s the times where i invite the ugly thoughts in for coffee as my friend says.
The children of Israel did this too. Someone cried out in fear about food, water, desiring the slavery of before and everyone jumped on the wagon and cried out in complaint and frustration.
“Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation]. No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].”
1 Corinthians 10:11-13 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1co.10.11-13.AMP
The word of God holds many stories of those who chose to succumb to the temptation, such as David and Solomon, but God is faithful. God is compassionate. Let His word teach us today. We can overcome.
So, let’s pull the viney weeds that are starting to grow in our minds and hearts. And if we have some weeds choking us, may today be the day to pull them and set them afire. You know and I know what they are.
Live in his confidence today.
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