The soil, still wearing winter’s crust, almost taunts the farmer–daring him to unleash the toothed blade.
Greeting the day before the moon is veiled beyond earth’s ridge, the man drops the tool behind his machine and tills narrow ditches in a quilt-like pattern–overturning dead, useless roots. The untouched soil lifts its face toward the sun, revealing the beauty of burnt sienna enriched by a year of rest.
He releases the promise of a new crop to nestle among the folds of freshly turned ground; miniature capsules of gold contained until nature beckons life from within.
On Being Readied for the Harvest Click To Tweet
These are the fallow crops dotting the rugged terrain of the Montana prairie. Cared for and tended, they will yield shimmering crops of wheat. But those who refuse to allow the land a season of Sabbath see a diminished return season by season. The ground, stripped of its nutrients, fails to produce in abundance.
Others allow wild grasses to infest their fields. Only distinguished from wheat at maturity, rye mimics the favored crop of the eastern plains. Its stalk bends playfully in the hot, western wind as if jeering at passersby. Who will bend low enough to pluck me from my roots?
But there is no other way to remove the weed before its imposter seedlings spill from their casings and contaminate next year’s yield. The farmer must grasp the plant at its base; his fingers soiled by labor.
In the same way, the problems and distractions of this world can easily choke out our own spiritual growth.
On Being Readied for the Harvest Click To Tweet
When I forget to rest in Him, my spirit is as dry and dusty as over-farmed acreage. I thirst but there is no relief and the high winds that race across the landscape toss me around as easily as Russian thistle.
If I fail to cultivate the soil of my heart with worship and Biblical study, the unwelcome invaders of worry, fear, and anxiety mark my life. Only in allowing the Master gardener daily access to my inner self am I rid of what must remain rooted out.
On Being Readied for the Harvest Click To Tweet
Can you relate? Do you, too, need the loving hand of the winnowing Father to separate the plenty from the imperfect?
Some days, the unwelcome weeds stand tall–their presence dripping with possibility and the potential to infect my thoughts and actions. To invade the way I interact with my husband and children. To send anti-truth tendrils into the work God has for me to do.
At times I remain hard and unchanged, unwilling to invite the freshness of God’s word to penetrate my heart and foster newness within. But like a well-maintained field that is harrowed and then remains fallow for a time, the Planter remains faithful to His work.
The seeds are sown. The noxious plants removed. And slowly, meticulously I am being readied for the day of harvest.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
I often linkup with the following wonderful bloggers.
Mondays InstaEncouragements/ Mandy and Michele, Kingdom Bloggers,
Tuesdays RaRa Linkup /GraceFull Tuesday / Tell His Story/Anchored Abode,
Wednesdays Worth Beyond Rubies, Recharge Wednesday / Welcome Wednesday /LetsHave Coffee/
Thursdays Heart Encouragement / Tune In Thursday /Salt and Light / Five Minute Friday
Friday Faith on Fire, Blogger Voices Network, Grace and Truth Linkup
What a wonderful post, with an ever-important reminder of how unconfessed and unrepentant sin in our lives can greatly limit our harvest. Amen Ms. Tammy!
It has a way of hampering growth, doesn’t it? I’m grateful for the rooting up God continues to do in my life.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
I love the lessons we learn from nature. Yours is beautifully shared. Today I began working in my yard. It’s strange, spring is still around the corner, the daffodils are just starting to bloom, but the weeds are already prolific. How can that be? It is still winter! Reminds us that the evil one can invade at any time. Not just in the “season” that we prepare. (My blog message next week, I think). Thank you, for sharing your wisdom and faith, Tammy.
Hi, Katherine.
I’m always amazed at how quickly the weeds invade. You make a good point about evil moving in during any season.
Have a wonderful evening and thanks for visiting.
Blessings,
Tammy
God tells us our heart is His garden. Just like we tend our plant garden, our heart needs tending to keep those weeds out. Great article, thanks for sharing!
So true, Barbara. They do need constant attention. Thanks for visiting!
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Nature is an amazing teacher. Seeds must die in order to live. We too must die to ourselves bin order to live in Christ.
That is a beautiful application, Sarah! Thanks for commenting!
Blessings,
Tammy
This is so beautiful and very encouraging. Thank you sweet sister … ❤
Amen! May we live yielded daily!
This is an extremely profound read Tammy! I love how you dissected and worded this. The importance of resting in God and spending time with Him is essential, but we do go through times when we take it for granted!
Thank you for sharing this!
Tasha Marie x
My pleasure, Tasha Marie. I’m glad you enjoyed it and so glad you visited.
Many blessings,
Tammy