Time to Weed

I'm looking out our window right now and seeing a yard that slightly resembles a jungle. Only without the lush green aspect to it. Our philosophy in recent years has been "If it's even remotely green and growing in the yard, then let it go--free to grow! Weeds deserve a little respect too!" Seriously, God made the weeds too, didn't He? As a line from a very old Livingston Taylor song expressed it: "There are flowers in my garden--pretty ones all in a row. But my favorite are the weeds. They don't know where to grow--but they know enough to grow." Amen to that--you've just got to admire their tenacity. Left unchecked, they will take over your garden, and sometimes those pesky critters can get so bad they are nearly impervious to the most potent weed killer. (Just ask my husband)

Isn't that just like our thoughts? I recently read of a book written 100 years ago entitled As a Man Thinketh, by James Allen. He noted that an individual's "mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind."

Our thoughts will always and inevitably lead to certain kinds of behavior, habits and words. Proverbs says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7) We are studying the book of Amos in Bible study right now, and I've been reading Amos' exhortations to the Israelites to "Seek Me and live" (5:5), "Seek the Lord and live" (5:6), "Seek good and not evil that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you." (5:14)

I couldn't help but think that one key place we begin to seek the Lord or seek good is with our thoughts. About what are we thinking? With what are we preoccupied? Are we thinking thoughts that glorify God, that tend to edify others, that focus on God's Word and ways? Or are we preoccupied with what we look like or what others think of us or how worried we are about our children or our friend or our finances? Are our thoughts fixed upon our failures or fears or even the faults of others?

One key rule I've really tried to recall when it comes to my thoughts: ask immediately (before I start dwelling upon and chewing on the thought): Is this thought from You, Lord Jesus? If it is not, dismiss it immediately and ask Him to enable me to think thoughts that glorify Him and are helpful and wise and kind.... All the stuff Paul urges us to think about in Phil. 4:8--"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

It's impossible not to think about "these things" if you are daily immersing yourself in God's Word. And reading great books (especially great biographies). And spending time with--and encouraging--other people who are seeking to think thoughts that are true and right and noble and commendable. How quickly we can fall into a pattern of negative or destructive thinking. How naturally we can tend to fixate upon what others are doing that is irritating us rather than focusing upon all the ways their lives bring joy or wisdom or goodness to the world.

So simple, I know, but I guess I just needed to be reminded to get busy weeding my thoughts on a daily... well, hourly, or minute by minute, basis! As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow expressed it: "Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds; fill it up with sunshine, kind words, and kind deeds." Might the Lord who gave us our minds be glorified, not only in all we say and do, but in all we think--'cause that's where it all starts! To God be the glory.