Weeds

Does your Arizona yard look like mine with slightly overgrown bushes and tiny unwelcome wild plants growing up out of the desert rock? The other day I stood out front and surveyed with dread all the little weed seeds that had started to sprout out of my gravel. They seem harmless now, but I know that in a matter of days they’ll begin a full scale invasion of my yard.

As I pondered the work before me, I couldn’t help but think of the state of my own spiritual life. How many times had I let little weeds of sin sprout and start to take over? How much could I have benefited from just taking the time to end those thoughts before they became actions and then damaging habits? It always initiates in my mind and it should stop there too!

Paul, throughout his many letters to the church, warns Christians to fight sin first in our minds. He challenges us to let the Holy Spirit control our thoughts, writing in Romans 8:5-9,
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you…” (NIV)

He also encourages us to replace those thoughts with godly things,
“… friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” (Philippians 4:8, MSG)

We can stop the weeds of sin from taking over, like the yard in the picture above (thankfully not my yard!). We can transform our thoughts with the Holy Spirit’s help, we just need to ask and surrender our thinking to Him! “Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him.” Romans 12:2 (CEV)

This weekend after church you’ll find me digging out those little rowdy plants before they get out of control…hopefully I'll be thinking good thoughts!

Announcements:

• We’ve been given a wonderful opportunity to share our HD Ministries with the entire church! Instead of a March 6th HD LIVE!, HD will be putting on a super, fantastic, MEGA HD LIVE! for all to experience during weekend services March 21/22! Stay tuned for details!
• Our next HD FIT will be Thursday, March 19! Check your email for an evite and be sure to RSVP!