Water

Many of the things I have done so far in my garden – the fencing, the weed cloth, the tomato cages – improve my garden but aren’t truly essential to the plants. Water is essential. Without water, the plants will perish.

Gardens can get water naturally through rain, automatically with a water timer and a stationary hose, or by hand with a hose and spray nozzle. But the plants have to have water.

Many of the things I do as a Christian improve my relationship with God, but aren’t essential. Prayer is essential. Without prayer, without conversation with God, the relationship will perish.

In the spring, in Tennessee, I don’t need to worry about watering my garden much; it rains a lot. Nature (God) provides the water with no effort on my part. Sometimes in my life, prayer arises with no effort or thought on my part. Prayer can be a natural outpouring of gratitude, awe, need, or concern. I think, ideally, this is the way it should be. I think, in the kingdom of God, this is how it is.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

But we’re not there yet. In my world, I need to water my plants. I need to make a plan for watering my garden, and I need to make a plan for prayer.

After Nick’s cancer diagnosis, we went to the ocean several times a year, often for a week or two. Some of these trips occurred as the garden was growing, so we needed an automated watering system. He buried a pipeline to the spigot, attached it to a soaker hose spread throughout the garden, and installed a water timer. When we were gone, the timer would turn on the water every evening and the garden would get water. Many times our prayers lives are similar; there is an automatic nature to them. We pray at meals, before we go to bed, at Sunday Worship, before and after Bible studies and church meetings. And as long as the water is flowing, and the prayer is sincere, this is a wonderful way to water your garden.

But if my schedule is flexible and I will be in town, I prefer to water by hand. There’s something about standing face to face with plants, gauging how much water each plant needs, observing the fresh growth and the weeds. It’s more personal somehow, more intimate. When and how much I water may change based on the day’s circumstances. I can wash off the bird droppings and the dust with a light mist.

And if I have not over-scheduled myself, and my mind is not elsewhere, this is how I like to pray. Just set aside a time during the day to stand (sit or kneel) face to face with God, gauging my needs and His desires, observing my fresh growth and my weeds. It’s more personal somehow, more intimate. When and for what I pray may change based on the day’s circumstances. I can ask for and receive forgiveness, gently given by one who knows exactly what I need.

The important thing is to pray, to water my garden. The manner, the situation, the impetus, none of that is as important as the actual heartfelt act of prayer.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Even the words don’t matter.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26

Keep the water flowing dear friends; keep praying.

Betsy

Thank you for joining me on this journey and for sharing your time with me. If you are enjoying the trip, please subscribe, follow, and/or share this with others.

He is able to do far more than we can even imagine. Ephesians 3:20