Got Weeds?

Spring is in the air folks and with that, it's also in my head as if a half pound of pollen has impacted my sinuses. I feel like I snorted a sack of flour. Nevertheless the world is in bloom and it's time to get in the yard and tend our gardens, lawns and landscapes. It's this time of year every year that I engage in and endless battle with weeds and crab grass. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an expert on gardening or prevention where weeds and crab grasses are concerned. In fact, every year I fight this battle only to be beaten down by the mutant plants that nothing seems to kill. Still, every year I wage war and some years I fight harder than others. There is certainly one constant. The weeds are not going away.

I have used many weapons in my war on weeds. I have used prevention which you put out before weeds germinate. ( when I say weeds I include crab grass in that category as it's been the most difficult to get rid of.) Still with prevention the weeds come back. I have used the traditional poisons such as "Round Up", or "Weed Be Gone". These are the easiest to use and are somewhat effective but when summer comes around it is overwhelming. Lastly, I used hand to hand combat as I simply pull the weeds by hand plucking them from my life. It's an endless battle that I always give into. It requires every day plucking out the new growth and it will keep popping up in every part of your garden, yard and landscaping. When you clear one area it pops up somewhere else. You have to just keep on fighting it out of your yard. You can be successful with these methods as I've seen it happen on other peoples property. Maybe I just don't quite know how to make that happen but I sure would like to have a nice lawn like that. Maybe I simply don't work at it hard enough

For a moment, lets say that your life, your soul and your salvation is representational for your yard, your garden and your landscaping. Along with that, Satan is the dirty weed that keeps pooping up in our garden or in this case our lives. We have the tools to to pluck him out by the root, although he will continue to try to pop up elsewhere in our "garden" if you will.

The Holy Spirit is our best "Round Up" for Satan. Galatians 5:16-18 says:
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 

This gives us power over the weed. Although we have power over the weed, it will continue to try to pop up in all areas of our garden. We must be prepared to pluck out the the evil root as soon as we see it sprout. We have the best protection available as we engage in hands on combat with the "weed". .Ephesians 6:10-17 tells us:

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 
We've now established we have the tools and protection  to wage war on the weeds in our garden. What about prevention Are there preventive measures. Certainly there are. For one, prayer. Pray on all things for the weed can't stand prayer. In addition, Ephesians 5:15-20 states:

¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Preventative measures indeed!

So in life we are born in spring and throughout our lives we wage war and are fitted with the gifts of our Lord and Savior with everything we need to get the weeds out of our garden. The weeds will always be there and therefore we should always be ready to tend our garden. When winter comes, our garden certainly needs to be, not necessarily spotless or without scars but it better be cleaned with the Blood of Christ and the gifts our Lord has provided. Summer is upon us folks and for some, Fall with Winter quickly approaching. How's your Garden looking today?