On a beautiful sunny day last summer, I was watering my flowers when I saw a new type of blossom in my pot of blue lobelia. It didn't look familiar but I didn't mind the way it looked with small pale pink beads. So, I just continued to water everything in the container. The new blossoms grew fast and I wondered if it was a new stage of the lobelia plant. I enjoyed the fresh greens and pinks that I saw each day as the plant expanded. Then, after a few weeks, my mom came over and as a former florist, I asked if she was familiar with this unknown beauty. She informed me that it was a weed and it should be pulled. I told her I had left it because I thought it was kind of pretty. She said, "well, if you like the way it looks, then you could sure leave it." So I did.
A few days later, as I was watering the plant, I found that the weed wasn't as pretty as I once thought it was. Once I found out it was a weed, it just wasn't as attractive to me. I was also afraid it would choke out my lobelia, as it was no longer the dominant plant in the container. I went to pull the weed and found that since I let it grow, it had a large stem and would take out most of the soil along with it.
I realized there are similarities between this container and my life. There are things that begin to take root in my heart that I kind of enjoy. Speaking my mind, for example. It can feel empowering to say what you want to say when you want to say it. It can feel good to stand up for yourself and get your point across in a powerful way. However, if left unchecked, this attractive trait, can become unhealthy and choke out love and grace. Even exercise which our body (and even our mind) needs can become a weed if it takes over the soil and chokes out the truth of who God says we are.
Philippians 4:8, " Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
It is easy to justify unwholesome actions, thoughts, or words because they are comical or we are just simply attracted to them for a fleeting moment. It's also easy to find encouragement for such things. It makes me think of the ear piercing auditions on American Idol by people that were told by loved ones that they were great singers. We cannot rely on the people around us to be our litmus test of what we should be focusing on. Instead, let's choose our thoughts and actions according to the Word of God.
Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Often, this time of year, we make resolutions to improve our lives. Let's resolve to live life intentionally. Don't let weeds creep in without noticing. Choose to keep the flowers, even when it is more work. Choose to be part of the beauty in someone else's life. When you find yourself doing life in automatic, just trying to get through the day, picture me......in a cheesy grandma type sweater, dropping you off at school yelling out the car window, "Make good choices!"
Philippians 4:8, " Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
It is easy to justify unwholesome actions, thoughts, or words because they are comical or we are just simply attracted to them for a fleeting moment. It's also easy to find encouragement for such things. It makes me think of the ear piercing auditions on American Idol by people that were told by loved ones that they were great singers. We cannot rely on the people around us to be our litmus test of what we should be focusing on. Instead, let's choose our thoughts and actions according to the Word of God.
Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Often, this time of year, we make resolutions to improve our lives. Let's resolve to live life intentionally. Don't let weeds creep in without noticing. Choose to keep the flowers, even when it is more work. Choose to be part of the beauty in someone else's life. When you find yourself doing life in automatic, just trying to get through the day, picture me......in a cheesy grandma type sweater, dropping you off at school yelling out the car window, "Make good choices!"
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