Thorns and Thistles

The first thing God spoke to me this morning was “Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.” Hebrews‬ ‭6:7-8‬ He repeated it twice. I pictured God raining down His encouragement, His promises, and His guidance on EVERYONE. Consistent and constant blessing. It was not based on merit but was given freely and abundantly in soaking showers. What the Holy Spirit drew my attention to was that the difference in what these rains did in the land was based on what we produced! That phrase "thorns and thistles" immediately brought to mind the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 in which the thorns and thistles were used by Jesus as a picture of "worries of this life and deceitfulness" choking out what God was growing. What we were TENDING in the gardens of our minds has everything to do with what we are PRODUCING in our lives! God is faithful to always sow seed and send rain, but fruitfulness comes in tending the dreams, promises and blessings of God in our lives- big and small - rather than tending the worries and deceptions. What is growing in your heart? Ask God to open your eyes to what worries or deceptions you are tending. “For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭5:6-9‬ ‭ Wow. Hardship doesn't spring from the soil. God didn't give us a promised land that was full of pitfalls and tricks. He gives us GOOD GIFTS. Troubles come from the spiritual battle man is born into that goes all the way back to Genesis 3 where we first hear about "thorns and thistles". BUT- the whole message shifts with this "but"- appeal to God! Lay your heart and worries and confusion before Him. Our compassionate, loving God is never "out" of miracles. He is never limited to doing what we can imagine, but He operates in the "unfathomable". The amazing things you never saw coming are His wheelhouse!! To those whose hearts are lamenting like Job crying out “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?”Job‬ ‭6:11‬, this is the message of HOPE. For the dreams or words or promises that have been so long coming you've almost given up. Or for those who feel they've searched and never seen God's miraculous power in their lives. HE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU. Water that HOPE inside you. EXPECT Him to bring fulfillment to your heart. Do NOT water the thorns of worry about how it'll happen or how long it's been or the thistles of deception, listening to the enemy whisper "Did He even promise that? What if He forgot you? What if you messed it up?" God says now, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalm‬ ‭32:8-9‬ Do not be controlled by your feelings! The horse and mule are controlled by pain and emotions about how the bit or bridle feels rather than an understanding of where their driver wants to go. We have a good driver who can be trusted. Do not base your course on how it "feels", but draw close to God to understand which way to go, knowing that He is constantly raining down grace, love, and breakthrough and is just longing for you to partner with Him to watch it really GROW.