Life Lessons from the Garden, Pt. 3: What am I Diffusing?

Yesterday I discussed how the manure of our lives creates the perfect soil for our lives to thrive. Holiness is not native to the flesh. But the stench reminded me of Paul's exhortation to the Corinthian church. He stated,

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life," 2 Corinthians 2:14-16a.

It's all a matter of whose perspective you choose to align with when it comes to gardening and life. When I smell manure, do I dwell on the negative, death, and flies? Or do I sense that which brings forth beauty and focus on how my light affliction will nourish myself and others one day? Will I choose to triumph over the substance and stench of my circumstances? That is, after all, what God calls us to – victory.

What are we allowing to be planted in the soil of our lives? You see, every seed bears something. You choose whether you are cultivating bitterness and resentment or life and joy. God asks us every day to choose between life and death. We are told in Deuteronomy 30:14-15, "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil." The water of the Word is close. You know it. Romans 1 tells us that "what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made" (Rom. 1:19-20).

God shows Himself to us through the processes we observe in nature, even our gardens. We must choose whether we will allow the manure of life to create death or life. It all depends on the seed we sow. God wants you to triumph and excel. He created you to reach for the Son and grow in the light of Christ! He alone makes you flourish!

Let's Pray:

Father, when the enemy seeks to bury me in the dung of life, I choose to reach for You. I choose life. I choose to flourish. No longer will I allow bitterness and resentment to ruin what You desire for my life. Lord, I want to grow strong in You and be the fragrance of Christ to those who are searching for You. When others see me as the fragrance of death, remind me of what I smell like to You! I give You praise, in Jesus' Name, amen!