* WHAT ARE YOU PLANTING?

Galatians 6:7 (NIV 1984) "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows."

After planting flowers and playing in the dirt Sunday I began to pause and evaluate the seeds I currently cultivate in my life.  We all plant seeds, but what kind?  Are they godly seeds of truth, humility and joy or are they seeds of selfishness, pride and stubborness?  The nature of any seed planted is to take root and flourish.  In time and with nourishment, the seeds we plant will grow to fruition, whatever they are.

The depth of our spiritual roots is a measure of our spiritual maturity because what is rooted in our hearts will bear fruit in our lives.  My friend Beth Ladd says, "We take root downward in order to bear fruit upward."  She simply states, "No root, no fruit."

The law of the harvest teaches we will reap what we sow.  It's necessary to recognize the fruit that is produced in our lives.  This fruit is the result of the seeds we plant and feed.  Sometimes we nurture seeds of bitterness, jealousy, and unforgiveness.  In order for us to produce patience, love, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control, we must sow to the Spirit.

Paul teaches in Galatians 6:7-8 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."  These verses instruct that if we sow to the flesh the harvest is destruction. Sowing to the Spirit produces a harvest of eternal life.  Paul is telling us we must sow to the Spirit in order to reap a life in the Spirit.

Sowing to the Spirit requires a conscious daily surrender of our lives to God.  I know for me, my flesh is too weak to not give in to its natural inclination.  I must die to self in order for His Spirit to be alive in me.  Ultimately, the seeds I must continue to plant and fertilize in my life include time in His Word, quietness before His throne and disciplining my body and mind to say "no" to the flesh when it seeks to overtake my will.

Let's be honest, it's hard sometimes to not give in to our humanness.  On a practical level sowing to the Spirit or flesh may look like this:

The Spirit says, "Put a love note in your husband's lunch."

The Flesh says, "He doesn't do that for me."

The Spirit says, "You need to pray for your boss."

The Flesh says, "He/She's the most difficult person I know.  How could prayer possibly help?"

The Spirit says, "Change the channel/turn off this movie.  The jokes and innuendos are not worthy of Me and you're laughing at licentiousness."
The Flesh says, "Ugh, can't I just let me hair down every now and then?  What's the harm?"

The Spirit says, "You should leave a generous tip."

The Flesh says, "The waiter brought the wrong dressing, my food was cold and He wasn't nice."

The Spirit says, "Get up a 1/2 hr. earlier to spend time with Me."

The Flesh says, "I'm so tired.  I need my sleep.  I deserve a break."

The Spirit says, "Don't honk your horn, yell at your dashboard or flail your arms at that driver."

The Flesh says, "They totally cut me off.  I'm gonna teach them a lesson."

The Spirit says, "You need to send your friend a card."

The Flesh says, "I really do not have time for snail mail."

The Spirit says, "Hold your tongue.  What you are about to say is not kind or necessary."

The Flesh says, "Tell it like it is, girlfriend!"

The Spirit says, "Those shorts are a little short and that shirt is a little revealing."

The Flesh says, "Who cares, I like the attention."

The Spirit says, " You need to surrender your thought life to Me.  It's getting out of control."

The Flesh says, "Why?  No one knows what I'm thinking."

The Spirit says, "You need to forgive that person and release yourself from bondage to this baggage."

The Flesh says, "I would rather hold a grudge.  Forgiving what they've done is just impossible."

The Spirit says, "Forgo the new outfit and give the money to someone in need."

The Flesh says, "It's so cute!  Plus it's on sale."

The Spirit says, "You should invite that person to church/small group/your home for dinner?"

The Flesh says, "Don't bother.  They're probably too busy and she might think I'm weird for asking."

The Spirit says, "Stop what you're doing and go play with your kids."

The Flesh says, "But I really need to finish checking my email."

If you have a pulse many of these may resonate with you, like they do with me.  It is in the small daily decisions of life where we sow to the Spirit or our flesh.  Does this mean we won't make mistakes?  Of course not.  However, when we have spent time in His Word we plant it into our hearts.  The more His Word is planted in us the more it will be revealed through us.  The daily decisions of choosing the Spirit become easier and being more apt to say "no" to the flesh is the result.

Disciplining ourselves to sow to the Spirit requires planting seeds that will grow us spiritually. Being intentional to plant spiritual seeds in our lives will enable us to bear fruit in accordance to what we profess.  The seeds planted in us are demonstrated by how we live.  Sow to the flesh, reap the flesh.  Sow to the Spirit, reap the Spirit.  Friends, remember Paul's message: we cannot sow to the flesh and expect to reap a life in the Spirit!

What are you planting?

Heart Work:

Make a list of practical ways you can sow to the Spirit each day.  What are your weak points?

Consider events of this past week where you gave in to the flesh and when you said "no" to the flesh.  Ask the Lord to help you die to yourself each day in order that His Spirit be alive in you.

Heart Exam:

Be honest, how much time do you spend sowing God's Word into your heart?  How deep are your roots?

What spiritual seeds are you planting in your life?  What flesh seeds need to be uprooted?

Which Spirit/Flesh statements above do you most identify with?

Heart Transforming Word:

Psalm 1:3 (NIV 1984) "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in season."

James 1:21 "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

Romans 8:9-11 "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."

Copyright 2011 by Hester Christensen.  Edited 2013.  All rights reserved.