A devotion by Princess

This last week our youth group traveled to Minneapolis, MN to work at a shelter for the day doing random projects they needed done. A group of us were sent to pull weeds in the back yard of a home. The entire yard was weeds. Weeds, weeds, weeds, and more weeds! Everywhere! We had a long day ahead of us. So, halfhearted with slightly poor spirits, we set to work.

Weeds are not an easy thing to pull. Some of them are small with little roots scattered in small bunches. Others are very tall with deep roots all twisted and tangled in the dirt. And still some are short with thick roots that no matter how hard you tug they just do not budge.

As I was pulling these monstrous weeds I began thinking, “What if we (Followers of Christ) were weeds?” Obviously weeds being bad by normal standards would now be good, and grass would become bad during this thought process. What if we (the weeds) began showing up in unexpected places and dug our roots in deep and thick, so we could choke out the grass (world). And no matter how hard they would try to remove us, out-number us, spray us, and shred us, our roots would always be at work, always growing deeper, thicker, and stronger.

Can you picture that? An army of weeds sprouting up in every yard, every park, and even through sidewalk cracks. I beg of you, as a fellow weed, to not be sprayed out, mowed over, ripped out, or eaten. Dig your roots in deep right where you are and choke out the world around you. Scatter your weed-y-ness to help other weeds build up to their full potential.

First Corinthians 3:6 says, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” Keep that in mind when you’re struggling to grow. We need the help of those around us. We can’t dig in on our own all the time. And only God can nurture our roots and leaves so we can grow to be more like Him.

So the next time you are out in your garden or walking along the sidewalk, and you see a weed, take that time to examine your roots. Ask yourself, “Am I choking out the world around me?” “Am I letting God feed my soul and roots with His rich water?”

He is a powerful God, and with His guidance, power, strength, and righteousness we can conquer anything.