Humility is Sometimes a Tough Row to Hoe

Speaking in planting-a-garden terms, cultivating the soil, which can be rocky, dry and, if by hand is a wearisome task. Then planting the seeds, keeping a watch out for critters that like to eat the new sprouts before they even mature, pulling the weeds that choke out the plant and harvest those taters, carrots, onions, beans, cucumbers and tomatoes. That list is what we planted in our Oklahoma garden.

I'm thinking that God is cultivating our soil, rather, cultivating our spirits to become all He's destined us to be. He has us in a sort of holy test tube to see whether we will become bitter or better during this planting and harvesting season of our lives. I believe that His goal is to humble us from our self-sufficient ways to depend and trust in Him and His ways.

During these strange, ominous and strained times, we may think that no one understands all we're doing to survive. How we’re coping. How we’re juggling what to do next for the young ones in our homes to keep them occupied. Maybe thinking that 24/7 together isn’t what we bargained for when we married. And then the frontliners who have given their all may think that not too many even recognize their efforts. But, here is the message that I sense God has for all of us today. He sees. He has a plan.

Remember the children of Israel murmuring and complaining in the desert? We thought we had it bad. They were toting their little ones, rustling their livestock, trying to come up with a new meal plan instead of another day of manna. They didn’t have a decent bed to sleep on. But God had an ulterior motive. To remove pride from them, He had to let them go through stuff to humble them. It was crucial that God prepare them to trust Him as they stepped from the desert into their destined Promised Land. “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” (Deuteronomy 8:2) YIKES! Is that what God is doing to us -- testing us so that we trust Him?

We are all struggling with pride which is the opposite of trust in God. Pride begs us to believe it all depends on us. Trusting God requires us to place our dependence on Him. And the row to hoe or the road to travel that leads us away from pride and into a place of truly trusting God is paved with humility.

What if God is using these humbling times to get us to a place of deep and unshakable trust in Him? If God sees big things ahead for us, and I believe He does, then He must get the “Round-Up” weed-killer out to get rid of all the weeds of pride. I believe God is giving us "insider” information. First of all, for us to remember He is our provider. Number two -- God’s provision for us doesn’t always look like we want it to look. Ugh! Who wants manna day after day? But God knew that was the nourishment they needed. And He knows what we need, too! Number three -- man-made bread AND man-made success will never fulfill us. Only God and His Word can seep into the places of our souls to make us fully alive and deeply satisfied.

So, maybe we need to look at what we’ve been planting. How’s our crop looking? How’s our pride level and how’s our trusting-God-level? I pray that our eyes open to how God isn’t trying to break us but rather He is making us ready for the harvest time up ahead. Dear Lord, help us to surrender our wills, our pride, our weaknesses to You and your perfect plans for our lives. We submit to being a humble vessel of honor that gives all praise and glory to You! Amen.

“The meek shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5)
“A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23)

Humility Sure Looks Good on You

It's time for a self-examination of conscience and attitude during these times. I say that based on the scripture that seems to come up daily in someone’s blog or post: “If MY people who are called by MY name, would HUMBLE themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways….” (2 Chronicles 7:14) Many of us get on the bandwagon and put in our two cents worth about how we should be handling “Black lives matter” and other national topics of debate. If we’d do this or if we’d do that or if we’d stop doing that, peace would reign supreme again. But, 2 cents worth and beyond -- came directly from God in that scripture.

I live in a safe and comfortable community, so it’s easy to be in an overly confident mode. I’d like to think that someone said to me: “Humility sure looks good on you!” But, Lord knows, I have had moments of being over-confident and self-assured. But, then, God reins me in if that turns to conceit or arrogance. I have been brought down several notches when I have come across less-than-humble. I have eaten many slices of Humble Pie. It’s not all that tasty, but it's always good for me.

This blog was prompted when I read this email from an online ministry: “Only a fool would become complacent in the midst of danger. Stay alert and be watchful. Refuse to allow yourself to be overly confident or self-assured. Humility is a good look for you. The enemy is seeking whom he may devour, so "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

I have been thanking God for such good health during these C-virus times. Maybe, even a little bit prideful about it. Then, on Thursday, after a shingles shot the day before and, unlike the first one I received, this one had a very negative reaction to it. First, my arm hurt so much that I couldn’t lift it. Then I started having flu-like symptoms, achy all over, felt like I had fever, and started thinking “Is this from the shot or do I have the C-virus?" Seriously! Oh, how the enemy attacks our minds! I self-prayed for me, took two pain reliever tablets and thanks be to God, the next morning, I was walking on sunshine, in sunshine and taking pictures of sunshine again. Oh, happy day!

To be humble is to gratefully recognize our dependence on the Lord -- to understand that we have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that our health, our abilities, our blessings are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that we know where our true strength lies. We can be both humble and fearless. We can be both humble and courageous. Jesus is our greatest example of humility. While on this earth, He repeated that His strength came because of His dependence on His Father. He said: “I can of mine own self do nothing. I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father Who has sent me” John 5:30.

We're being reminded to keep a watch out for those times when pride sneaks up on us and we get full of ourselves. God is awesome in the ways He brings us back to taste some Humble Pie. Okay, I've confessed and I’ve asked God to please let me know BEFORE He has to pull out the "Humble Pie". I think I'll do my best to avoid that dessert and keep my eyes and heart open, in case God needs to offer me another slice!

How Does How Does YOUR Garden Grow -- With Pretty Flowers or Pesky Weeds?

After a week away from home, I was overwhelmed when I saw the weeds that had popped up in my flower beds in such a short period of time. Whew! Dear God, why did you create weeds to grow so well and oftentimes grow so much healthier and stronger than the beautiful flowers and plants that have difficulty growing?

I remember reading a friend’s post when she asked for advice for getting rid of weeds in her garden. Some of the comments and recommendations from others were: “Put newspaper around the plant – it will suffocate the weeds”; “Put grass clippings around the plant”; and I loved this one “Don’t plant a garden!” LOL!

Those garden weeds caused me to think about the weeds that may have grown in our heart’s garden – weeds of selfishness, pride, self-centeredness, laziness, bitterness, anger, envy, doubt, unbelief, sadness, fear, etc. I don’t know about you, but I recognize those weeds that creep into my heart’s garden when I haven’t watered my heart with prayer enough or focused enough on God’s “Light” (His Word).

As soon as I sense THOSE heart weeds, I get out my “weed eater/annihilator” out and I:
1) First, cultivate the soil and add a good mixture of fertilizer (prayer).
2) Plant the seeds of God’s Word (Bible reading, meditating and speaking the words) into my heart.
3) Give the plants (my heart) plenty of sunshine (speaking the light of God’s Word over the situations that may be troubling or concerning me)
4) Give the plants plenty of water (thanking, praising, trusting in God’s goodness and mercy to complete what He started).

It was a beautiful, cooler and rainy morning here in Frisco yesterday. I made up my mind that as soon as the rain would stop, I’d go out, while the soil was wet, to easily pull the weeds out of my flower beds and herb garden. I did. No doubt, those little weeds will show up again one day soon, but, no problem – I’ll be the weed eradicator once again. And in the same way, I’ll keep monitoring my “heart” garden and I’ll make sure it is “weed” free so that an abundant harvest of sweet and beautiful fruit shows up daily. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.......” Galatians 5:22,23

St. Paul said it so well. Once we plant the seed…..God will make it grow! "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." I Corinthians 3:6,7. God is the Master Gardener, and what He plants, always yields a great harvest!