VOICE OF TRUTH FOR TODAY
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Macro photography has taught me to look closely at things most of us overlook. Take Creeping Charlie, for example. From above, it’s simply a pesky weed threatening to spread across the lawn. But magnified through a camera lens, its tiny purple flowers reveal remarkable beauty—and an astonishing protective design.
Covering the plant are tiny hairs called trichomes. They help absorb moisture and protect against sun, frost, wind, and heat. Some are even designed to discourage insects from eating the plant. Who knew such a troublesome little weed came equipped with such serious armor?
As I learned about these protective layers, I thought about our own need for spiritual protection. Sin behaves a lot like a weed. Left unattended, it spreads, takes root, and can begin choking life from the garden of our hearts.
Thankfully, God has given us layers of protection too.
The first is salvation through faith in Jesus. Then comes the indwelling Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 tells us, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (NIV). We also have God’s Word, prayer, and confession. First John 1:9 promises that when we confess our sins, God faithfully forgives and cleanses us from unrighteousness.
We may belong to Jesus and still face temptation. That’s why we continually need Scripture hidden in our hearts and the Holy Spirit guiding our lives. These are God’s “weed killers,” helping us recognize and remove sin before it overtakes the garden.
God is the ultimate macro photographer. He sees beneath the surface and examines our hearts more closely than any camera ever could.
So what would His lens reveal today?
A heart protected and nourished by His Word—or weeds needing to be pulled?
How does your garden grow?
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Excerpt from Voice of Truth Magazine
“A Focus on Him” by Lillian Cucuzza