The Garden
What is growing in your heart?
While I was on my morning walk recently, the Lord asked me, “Are you protecting what I have planted in you?” In all seriousness, it made me nervous. This scripture came to mind: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians1:3 NIV emphasis added). But the Lord was referring to something more specific.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7 NIV).
We all have differing gifts that are meant to edify and build up the body of Christ. We are not all the same, and God’s giftings are not always according to our natural talent. But many of us seldom ask God what He has planted in us.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9 NKJV emphasis added).”
What the Lord has planted in our hearts can go un-noticed. Let the gardening example below help you with identifying what He has already planted in you.
When gardening, we must know what we planted, what it looks like, and watch its growth. It is our responsibility to nurture its progress, water, cultivate, and protect it. We regularly observe and water the soil, keeping unwanted growth and hardness from occurring. We learn to protect only what we have sown, not allowing random shoots or weeds to rob the soil of nutrients and water.
A believer’s heart is fertile; it will grow anything that’s planted in it. This makes guarding our hearts even more important.
As a man thinks in his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV).
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (Galatians 6:8 NKJV emphasis added).
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45 NKJV emphasis added).
In a natural garden we perform the duties mentioned above. How much more should we nurture the planting of the Lord in our hearts. If we ignore this simple exercise, what God has entrusted to us will not grow and produce.
Understanding the importance of caring for what gets planted in our heart is the difference between walking in faith, or unbelief. I have been re-examining the deep thoughts of my heart, whether they are according to the Word or our culture. If you are like me, the more I’ve examined them, more weeds became apparent. It is our responsibility to keep our hearts.
Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind (Psalm 26:2 NIV).
…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7 NKJV emphasis added).
Are you protecting what God has planted in you? Our spiritual health is not on cruise control where we can ignore the condition of our heart.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1 NKJV emphasis added).
© 2026 Mark Rossback