Teachings

The Master Gardener

Do you know God the Father as the Master Gardener? From the beginning of time He has a gardener's heart. He planted the first garden in Eden (Gen 2:8), and put man in the garden to cultivate it and keep it (Gen 2:15).

As we stroll throughout the Bible, we observe the Father gardening in another garden—the garden of the heart. (1 Cor 3:9, Isa 5:7) Threaded throughout the Bible He is seen:

Cultivating: "For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be cultivated and sown." (Ezek 36:9 NAS)

Planting: "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor." (Isa 61:3 NIV)

Watering: "So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD, His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth." (Hosea 6:3 NAS)

Causing growth: "They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom as the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon." (Hosea 14:7 RSV)

He has given His Word—the Bible—as the seed to be sown in our hearts (Luke 8:11). He watches over His Word to perform it (Jer 1:12) just like the gardener who patiently watches over his seed to make sure it sprouts and grows into healthy, fruit-bearing plants.

As the earthly gardener protects his tender seedlings from predators and insects, and knows just how much fertilizer and water to give them, the Master Gardener cultivates our hearts giving us what we need when we need it. He encamps His angels around us and covers us with the precious blood of His Son Jesus to protect us from all that would try to destroy us.

Won't you open the garden gate of your heart and let Him in? Surrender yourself to Him, and allow Him to soften your heart and remove anything that would hinder your spiritual growth. Entrust yourself to the care of the Master Gardener, for He loves you and the plans He has for you are plans to prosper you, not to harm you (Jer 29:11).

Dear Father, I yield my heart, will and emotions to You and ask You to be the Master of my life. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Ps 139:23-24 NIV).

Fill me with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that I may walk in a manner worthy of You, Lord, to please You in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. In Jesus' name, Amen. (Col 1:9-10 NAS)

In upcoming weeks we will teach you how to cultivate your own heart, and the hearts of others, by personalizing the Word of God in prayer. But for now, yield your will and desires to God and begin planting the seed of His Word in your heart by meditating on Scripture, studying His Word and talking to God in prayer.

Print page

Garden of the Heart Ministries
2267 Oakhill Drive
Green Bay, WI 54313