While eating breakfast, I watched a video on tips for watering hanging baskets. As the expert reviewed these 3 tips, I thought about the Living Waters of scripture and the following verse:
But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
John 4:14 (NLT)
A fresh, bubbling spring within them!! Who wouldn’t want that? We “water” our souls and spirits by reading the Word Of God and praying. Let’s consider what the tips for watering plants would look like through spiritual eyes.
Tip #1: Water Adequately: Learn how heavy the plant needs to be when water is needed. Only water until it is adequate. If you have hanging baskets, lift the basket to determine the water content. The water requirements will change from day to day.
It has been my experience that the scriptures are opened to me more easily at certain times than others. Since I am sensitive to the structure and grammar of sentences, I sometimes have trouble understanding the “grammar” used and how the sentence should be read. Trying to maneuver through these scriptures is like learning how heavy the plant needs to be when water is needed. After reading various translations and/or discussing with Mike, I will begin to understand how the sentence(s) was meant to be read. Determining when to study and for how long is important to me each day. Only water or study until it is adequate.
At other times, the scriptures and study notes give so much enlightenment that I can’t stop reading! That is when I want more and more Living Water, which will nourish the spring within me!
Tip #2: 24-hour Mentality: We should water just enough for the roots to be nourished during a 24-hour period. Determining that amount comes with practice. I have heard over the years that a plant should be watered until the water is dripping from the bottom of the pot. The source I listened to stated that this is not true. That idea would be like drinking 5 gallons of water at a time, which our bodies cannot handle. Same thing with a plant – it can’t handle an overabundance of water.
Spiritually, is there such a thing as getting too much of the Word of God? Of being inundated with it? I believe that we cannot get too much of God’s Word, but the frequency & quantity are what matter to me. When I am preparing for my Sunday School class, I might spend 1-2 hours for a few days trying to research and read the scriptures we are discussing. But there comes a time when I am “done”! My brain simply cannot receive any more information at that time. It is like the plant which is being given too much “water”. If I were to continue, the scriptures and meanings would flow right through me without being absorbed in my mind or my spirit. My brain, like a plant, must have time to realize the meanings of the scriptures/research and to plan the presentation to my group. I need just enough, which comes with practice each week.
Tip #3: Water in the morning – The best time to water plants is in the morning. I know that, but I have always loved being in the yard after supper, especially when I was working. It is still my favorite time to water, but I have learned that this can slowly “kill” the plant. The water soaks into the soil/roots overnight when there is no means for drying. If the roots stay wet, they will eventually rot. By watering in the morning, the roots can more easily absorb the water and send nutrients to the plant as it dries throughout the day.
Since retirement, I have come to enjoy my time with God in the morning. I’m not an early morning person so it was difficult to do this when preparing for work. After we moved to Clarksville, I remember asking a friend about this. Does it matter if we have “God Time” in the evening versus the morning? She simply answered that God was happy to have the time with me when it worked best for me. It wasn’t a matter of when but a matter of doing it which was important. Now it works best in the morning since it prepares me for the day and gives me God’s teachings to think about during the day. Of course, there are days when it doesn’t happen. Like today, He has me writing His message given while eating breakfast!
Consider how you water your soul and spirit. Do you water adequately in the morning with a 24-hour mentality? We must learn to take as much care for our reading of God’s Word as we do our beautiful plants. One day at a time. Care for it today!
God, we thank you for all of your creation and what it teaches us! Help us to keep ourselves watered just enough for today.
Thanks for stopping by,
Rachel
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