Lent coupled with the arrival of spring, fills my soul with the Hope of renewal. Though a time of serious soul searching, the Lenten fruits of spiritual renewal also bring peace and Joy. As I transparently spend time in confession, my relationship with God is transformed through the renewal of His love.
A heart set on God’s way above its own, embraces the Lenten season as a time for waking up from the dormancy of any spiritual indifference to an enlivening of new spiritual rhythms.
Taking stock of the gardens throughout our property, evidence of new life peeks out beneath the softened soil, yet many areas reveal neglect and the barrenness of once hearty plants unable to endure another season.
in search of spiritual renewal
In the same way we evaluate our physical gardens for the upcoming season of spring, we must take stock of our spiritual lives grown dormant after the Joy of the Advent season.
Continuing my journey through selected psalms this Lenten season, Psalm 69 leads me to the need for appraising the garden of my heart. Have I cultivated the weeds of bad habits, choking out life-giving habits?
What has died and needs cleared away? Where has hurt, resentment, and carelessness overgrown forgiveness and compassion?
David, too, seeks spiritual renewal, but first he boldly looks inward and transparently bares all before God.
“I am a foreigner to my own family,
a stranger to my own mother’s children;
9 for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
10 When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;
11 when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.
12 Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.”
Psalm 69:8-12
Taking stock, David finds misery, rejection, hatred, and injury at the hands of those who profess love for him. Feeling persecuted, not because he has forsaken God, but to the contrary, because he chooses to live authentically before Him.
The language of Psalm 69 expresses deep anguish and despair.
“Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
3 I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.”
Psalm 69:1-4
Yet David seeks not to hide in silent pain and resentment, but unashamedly speaks raw and honest before God, admitting his own guilt, seeking the protection of others despite his mistakes.
“You, God, know my folly;
my guilt is not hidden from you.
6 Lord, the Lord Almighty,
may those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me.”
Psalm 69:5-6
Though middle portions of the psalm find David slip into imprecatory prayer against his enemies he ultimately refocuses on God’s unfailing love and goodness, breathing peace and Joy into his troubled soul.
lenten fruits of spiritual renewal
Lent provides us with a time of soul opening to deeper fellowship with Christ as we bravely take stock of our spiritual garden:
- Weeds. Have you let your guard down, inviting habits which feed your flesh, but starve your spirit? A good test of any habit is to notice your attitudes, demeanor, and awareness of God’s Presence when participating in it.
- Debris. What no longer serves you? Are there relationships or connections which need to be removed? Check for routines which choke off life, programs, or classes which are no longer helpful. Emotional debris from old hurts and losses.
- Overwhelm. Similar to garden overgrowth, which parts of your life and routine choke out time for spiritual growth? What unrealistic expectations are you imposing on yourself?
Making time for honest evaluation opens the way for Lenten fruits of spiritual renewal which breathe new life into your soul.
Approaching this time with Joy in drawing closer to Jesus, we find rest, peace, and deeper intimacy, as we grow spiritually more mature.
Shifting our perspective to one of praise and thanksgiving, Lent becomes cause for celebration rather than privation, as we look forward to the gift of complete serenity and peace with God purchased for us at the Cross.
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I love this Donna: “embrace the Lenten season as a time for waking up from the dormancy of any spiritual indifference to an enlivening of new spiritual rhythms.” We all fall into old routines that may have stopped working, and need to open our eyes to new paths that God wants to lead us on.
Lisa, I love viewing Lent through the lens of renewal and awakening, for old routines become cold and unfulfilling and awakening to a fresh look at Christ is totally life giving!
Having just made clippings of an overgrown houseplant for the very first time, I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. The original plant within a few days displayed signs of health and growth and color I had not seen. And the new clippings, well, they are delightfully growing roots in the water 🙂
“Shifting our perspective to one of praise and thanksgiving, Lent becomes cause for celebration rather than privation, as we look forward to the gift of complete serenity and peace with God purchased for us at the Cross.” Amen!
It can be provide a time of tender pruning which makes way for new and wonderful growth! Thank you for this reminder, dear friend!
Joanne, my houseplants teach me many lessons about growth (or the lack of it!), isn’t it amazing how creation speaks? Hearing a few friends discuss Lent as a time of deprivation troubled me, and after sitting with it, I realized instead, it can be a time of great growth!
Donna, it hasn’t really been Lent, but rather my recent bout with Covid that has been sort of like a spiritual recalibration for me. I find myself looking forward to my morning prayer times, and verses that have long been spiritual anchors for me have returned to front of mind. Of course I shouldn’t be surprised … His strength is made perfect in my weakness, and lately, I’ve felt very weak in many areas. As my actual flowerbeds start to show signs of life (or not, in certain cases), you’ve also encouraged me to keep taking stock of my heart to see what needs tending, weeding, or perhaps digging up completely.
Lois, I do hope you are feeling much better from your bout with COVID, it is a nasty virus, and not easy to shake off. But any illness or health setback can bring us to that place of resting in God’s strength amid our own weaknesses. For that I am always grateful. I rejoice with you at finding these familiar rhythms again, allowing you to recalibrate and renew spiritually. Sending health-filled hugs your way!!
I love this, Donna. Thank you for directing me to do some needed Spiritual gardening. May our gardens physically and spiritually grow beautifully for Jesus!
Deborah, with the arrival of spring, it seemed a good time to turn thoughts towards some spiritual gardening!!
Taking these before the Lord, Donna, “Have I cultivated the weeds of bad habits, choking out life-giving habits? What has died and needs cleared away? Where has hurt, resentment, and carelessness overgrown forgiveness and compassion?” I want to have a heart garden that is free from weeds and debris, so it is good soil that bears good fruit.
Lisa, it takes hard work and intentionality to cultivate a good spiritual garden capable of bearing fruit!
It’s good to take stock of what we’re growing spiritually, what needs to be pruned, what needs support and help, what needs to be cleared out.
Barbara, I fear I don’t take stock near often enough, those weeds seem to come back with a vengeance!
I guess it is another Lent,
I guess it is another day.
Armour’s dinged and sword is bent,
but I still have to find a way
to make it through to Journey’s End,
the setting of the sun,
and I no longer can pretend
that it will be much fun.
There will, however, be no tears,
however sore the pain,
and I take no counsel of my fears,
and nor will I complain,
as whinging’s not part of the plan
for likes of me, God’s hardest man.
Fabulous poem, Andrew! I love your imagery of making it through the Journey no matter how hard, without complaint!
Such a great post Donna & quite thought provoking! It’s Autumn here in Australia so leaves are falling, which makes me think what needs to fall from my life!
Blessings, Jennifer
Jennifer, autumn is my favorite season, and I love the picture of leaves falling reminding us of what we need to let fall from our lives!
the weeds, the debris. yeah, i can think of a few things right off the bat.
Linda, yes, we can let our gardens become quite the mess!