Just Add Soil

by: carole l. haines

 “You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God. (Exodus 34: 26 NASB)

I stumbled into an experiment that I never meant to start.  I winter-over several of my outdoor plants.  This requires bringing them in and finding a nice place for them, near light, where they can hibernate over the cold of the Winter months. Some plants, I just break branches off of, and place them in water to re-root the plant.  One of my favorites to re-root, is a gorgeous Purple Heart plant, that I have had for many years.  But I noticed that though it grows roots in the water, it doesn’t really get new growth up top.  So, this Winter I decided to place it in a pot with soil, once it developed roots.  This plant is now starting to grow, and send off brand new plants as well.  Water wasn’t enough, light wasn’t enough. I needed to add soil.
Soil is formed when Rock breaks down and mingles with dead plant materials. There are places in our lives when we have to let go, let something die, let something fall to the ground.  It’s hard to let go, but that letting go produces the soil; the very foundation from which new things from God to begin to form in our lives.  Keeping those old things barely alive in water, is not enough.  God wants us to let go those old things, let them fall to the ground and die, so new soil can form, to nourish the new things He is bringing into our lives.
Listen to what Jesus says:
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24 NASB)

Are there things you are holding on to that God wants you to let go of? Let them fall. Just open your hands and let them fall to the ground.  Place these things at the feet of Jesus.  He will produce a harvest in the new soil of those lost things; and bring forth fruit to His glory and for your good.  Water is not enough, light is not enough.  We must add soil, by letting go, by trusting God. He will produce a harvest in our losses. Let them go.
Lord Jesus, these things I have been holding on to, You know what they are. I lay them at Your feet, like a grain of wheat falling in to the ground to die, I let them go. Produce a harvest from this loss, a harvest to Your Glory, and for my good. Amen!