A few days ago my community group did some weeding at a local elementary school. As I was pulling up weeds, I was frustrated at the larger ones-the roots were deep and hard to pull up. Several times I had to take the spade and dig up around the stalk and still had to yank pretty hard to get the root up.
Then I started thinking about my heart-it’s a lot like weeding. There are some weeds that have been growing in my heart for a long time and it’s those weeds (selfishness, insecurity, doubt, fear, etc.) that have really taken root and are hard to pull out. I guess that is why it hurts sometimes when the Lord begins His “spring gardening”-those “weeds” that are strong the Lord is having to take a spade and dig..and dig, and then He has to pull and tug for them to loosen their grip on my heart.
Another issue with gardening is the condition of the soil. The other day we were fortunate- it had recently rained making the dirt soft and pliable. The weeds were easier to yank up, but, had the dirt been more like red clay it would have been harder to pull the roots up.
Our hearts are the same way. If we are daily in the Word, spending time in prayer, and just being with Jesus-the effect is much like a spring rain. Our hearts are watered and become more susceptible to change, uprooting, and new growth. 
But if we starve ourselves of the Word, starve ourselves of quality time with Jesus in prayer-our hearts , like the soil, become hard and dry and it is much harder to uproot anything, or allow healthy life and growth to occur.
Luke 8:5-8
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
vs 11-15
“This is the meaning of the parable: the seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
Weeding is the process by which beautiful flowers may grow…I pray I would allow weeding to take place so that my heart can become a beautiful garden for my Savior to enjoy and reside.
