Reign in The Garden

My plan was to park here, right in between this hotel or Airbnb and the ocean. This little hidden corner, with a ramp, some stairs and a tiny sandy beach to enter the water. My plan was to park the car here, continue my devotional, quickly after go for a run and be back to change into my bathing suit and jump into the water. There were just some tiny clouds when I arrived. Good wind, the sun shining through. But on my left side, coming from the west, came thick dark grey clouds. They were so far away, but the “good wind” got better and stronger, and the grey kept nearing and nearing. Still sitting in the car, doing my devotional, now reading my Bible, I see lightning, and just a few seconds later, I hear thunder. Loud thunder. More lightning, louder thunder with fewer seconds in between them. It’s getting dark again. And then… downpour! Literal downpour. As if God just opened up the heavens and poured a bucket of heavy water down. I hear every drop fall on the car; it kinda sounds like music. Great white noise. Actually, great wet noise. But as the pouring continues outside, a pouring is started inside.

Part of Nurturing My Heart’s Garden was to remove bits that were not bearing fruit or that were not bearing enough fruit. God wants us to prune those branches and sticks, so that the branches He wants us to focus on can bear much fruit. So they truly can be fruitful. It doesn’t necessarily mean those bits are “bad” or “evil”, but they definitely fulfilled their purpose for their time being. And so I cut. I cut and burned them on A Bonfire In The Garden. Which now reminds me of Elisha when he burned his plan B right after being mantled into his calling. No doubt. No thinking twice (1 Kings 19:19-21). The bonfire has been burning, consuming for some time now. A couple of weeks. And the burn was good. The garden is cleaned out. Fresh, free and light. Ash is still coming down from the fire that has gleamed into a smouldering end. I’m taking another deep breath in. Smoky, but so good.

In reality, what this has been looking like is me letting go of some responsibilities. I delivered all I needed and was asked to deliver. I did my part. Now, stepping my final step, I’m getting out of groups and closing these chapters. And while it’s still pouring outside, I look up and realise this is what is happening in my heart’s garden right now. I start singing Rain/Reign in my head. And great peace follows. God is not only downpouring rain in my heart’s garden, but He reminds me that He alone reigns in my heart.

Sometimes the trees, the flowers, the seeds, the planting, the one who plants, or the one who waters get more attention than the One who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). And when that happens, you can say that our focus is removed from what and Who really matters. Our eyes can only be pointed in one direction. And I want mine to stay fixed on Christ.

Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭[HCSB]‬‬ — “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.”

I am grateful God has forced me, pushed me, directed me into this need, realization and great urge to clean, prune and nurture. To remove everything that has received too much attention. So that I don’t give them a throne. So that the throne in my heart stays His and His alone.

My garden is heavenly being watered. Soaked. It’s drinking. Gulping down. Satisfying all thirst. It’s being cleaned out. The ash is washing away. The green is green, alive and vibrant, even under these dark grey clouds. The smell of rain opens my lungs even more. My bare feet in the drenched grass and each drop of torrential rain on my skin awakens my body. Opens my eyes and see…

Christ still reigns.