Pruned, Planted, and Set Free
Well, bless my soul, button, pull up a comfy rocker and settle in, ’cause we’re about to stroll through the garden of your life, and trust me, it’s ‘a-lookin’ about as crooked and charmin’ as a fence built by a man who just eyeballed the measurements.
Picture your heart as a country garden where tomatoes try their best, squash takes over like it’s ‘a-runnin’ for office, and God Himself is ‘a-walkin’ the rows with pruning shears. He’s not out there ‘a’-whackin’ away like a bored teenager told to “trim somethin’.” No sir, He’s the Master Gardener, ‘a-snippin’ the dead stuff so new life has room to stretch its legs. It’s His gentle way of ‘a-sayin’, “Trust Me. I know exactly what I’m ‘a-doin’.”
Hebrews 12:1 reminds us we’re surrounded by a whole grandstand of saints ‘a-cheerin’ us on. Meanwhile, most of us are ‘a-tryin’ to run this race like we’re ‘a-draggin’ three overstuffed suitcases, a cooler, and a lawn chair that keeps unfoldin’ at the worst possible moment.
I get it. I’m an overpacker myself. I’ll haul half my closet across the country “just in case,” even though I know good and well I’ll end up ‘a-wearin’ the same two outfits. Life works the same way. We lug around habits, distractions, and priorities that aren’t sinful, but they sure ain’t helpful. They weigh us down like a wet goat on your back.
So, every now and then, I plop myself on the porch and ask, “Is this a wing or a weight? Does it help me soar, or does it glue me to the ground like a possum stuck in a feed bucket?” You’d be amazed at how many things go to nibblin’ away at our time, joy, and closeness with God like squirrels ‘a-chewin’ through attic insulation.
That’s when the Lord does His trimmin’, not to hurt you, but to help you. He cuts back the overgrown mess so there will be more room so somethin’ new can bloom, somethin’ so lovely it’ll make the deer pause mid‑munch. He’s ‘a-shapin’ your garden into somethin’ He can use for His glory and your good.
So step back, loosen that grip on that extra baggage, and let the Lord do what He does best. Feel His peace ‘a-settlin’ in like a cool breeze on a July porch, His strength ‘a-steadyin’ your steps as you move forward, and His promise ‘a-ringin’ in your heart louder than a rooster at sunrise: “Forget the former things. See, I am ‘a-doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18–19).
Lord, thank You for walkin’ the garden rows of my life. Show me what needs to go, give me courage to release it, and help me trust that You’re ‘a-growin’ somethin’ better in its place. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Goodness gracious sakes alive! Now, go on and step out into your day like a barn cat with purpose: light, free, and ready for whatever God is gonna grow next ‘cause He’s ‘a-doin’ a new thing even if your garden is still 'a-lookin’ a mite lopsided.
With joy,
Gwen
