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Purpose Planted in a Garden

Updated: May 16, 2024



Our Own Personal Garden of Eden

I like to think of my heart as a garden; my own personal garden of Eden. A place where I can go  to meet with Jesus and walk and talk with Him in the cool of the day. Only my little garden is not  perfect as Eden was. No, no. My garden, though beautiful, has places that are wild and unruly. There are weeds and critters threatening my garden that need to be removed. These represent  toxic thoughts, past traumas, and sin to name a few. In the creation account, we see in Genesis  2:5 two elements that are needed for vegetation to grow—water and work. My spiritual garden  needs water and work too! It needs the Living Water of God and my partnership with Him to do  the hard work of heart work so that I can bear the fruit of spiritual maturity. 



Spiritual Maturity

What does spiritual maturity have to do with our purpose in life? Spiritual maturity simply put is  growing up spiritually to be like Jesus. Often times when little boys talk about what they will be  when they grow up they say they will be big and strong like daddy! Indeed, my spiritual self is  saying “I want to grow up to be like Jesus!” You see, upon salvation, my spirit became a new  creation, but my heart (also known as one’s soul or mind) needs to be renewed (or cultivated).  This is heart work. As I do this, I begin to look more like my Father, act like His Son, and move  with His Spirit.

We are each a unique combination of God’s character and attributes. He gave us abilities, gifts, and talents in the natural. But how we act in the natural is a byproduct of our spiritual heart condition as Proverbs 4:23 states, “Everything you do flows from it.” We must guard it, nurture it, tend to it. And for what purpose? Oh, the age-old question, “What is my purpose in life?” We can make this convoluted, but put simply, it’s to be who God created you to be. 


Your Spiritual Garden Awaits

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. I know the person I was created to be is under a heavy load of life’s demands, stress, and toxic traits. Friends, inside each one of us is a “spiritual garden” that God planted when he fashioned us. Some seeds have sprouted beautifully, and  others are waiting for you to give them a little water and work. What seeds has God planted in  your heart that are waiting to be nurtured? There is only one way to find out. Talking to the One  who planted them—the Master Gardener of your soul. Partner with God and let Him show you  how to tenderly tend to your garden. With the Living Water of God and a little heart work you  will look more and more like Jesus every day and live out the purpose you were created for!


How are you partnering with God to tend your garden?




Scriptures for Contemplation

Romans 12:1-2

Ephesians 2:10


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