"Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us."-Charles Haddon Spurgeon
How are you cultivating the soil of your heart? Are you using the plow of Patients? The tiller of Longsuffering? Or, have you allowed the thorns and thistles of discontent, covetousness and complaints resurface and take over the garden of your heart?
We must understand that the process to obtain contentment is a gradual and sometimes a most gruelling one, but the end results are far more rewarding than the pains it took to get there and the knowledge gained in order to maintain that state.
Philippians 4:11
Monday, February 16, 2009
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6 comments:
How odd...I had just finished studying: Hebrews 6
7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
We have to go through the process of making OUR 'land' able to drink in that rain, "cultivating the soil of our heart" as you put it...and the results are very rewarding, aren't they! Thanks, IHS...great to think about.
It's easy to identify a barren field. Much more difficult to identify a barren heart.
It always strikes me that the most fulfilled religious community I can think of has to be the Shakers. You're more aware of them here since several of the Shaker villages are still operating as museums in New England.
They did have a flaw in the philosophy for sure but they knew much about the heart.
I can somewhat agree with you there, Ducky. However, the principles are somewhat similar when it comes to barrenness.
The field of course is seen immediately, and the barren heart is seen through the actions of the individual or time.
Blessings.
Ducky, and didn't that austerity of the Shakers carry over EVER so beautifully into their furniture design, etc...LOVE Shaker room details and furnishings?..I love it.
It sure is difficult to identify a barren heart...until the actions or words are seen/heard, like IHS said.
And then we pray for that heart.
Amen to this!! ! am definitely bookmarking your blog you are blessed
Godbless
IJ, Thank you for those kind words.
Blessings to you.
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