As you are reading this message, it has likely happened!! There’s been a change in seasons. Spring has officially arrived. Certainly, the way the outdoor temperatures are going to be today on Friday March 20, 2026, here in Mitchell, it is certainly going to feel like spring. I think I heard we could be near record setting temperatures today. Anyway, today at 10:46 a.m. spring officially begins.
Now spring is usually thought of as a season of warmer temperatures and also of new life. Soon lawns will be greening up, trees and bushes will start budding, certain flowers will start popping up. And gardeners will begin planning in earnest for their yard and garden work. In fact, just a couple weeks ago Nancy and I signed up for several garden plots in the community garden. If any of you are thinking about getting a garden plot in the community garden, it probably isn’t too late, get in touch with the folks at the City Parks and Recreation Department.
Anyway, Nancy and I have started talking about what we are going to plant in our garden, carrots, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. And soon, we’ll be drawing up the plan for the layout of the garden, what we are going to plant where. We do this each year at the beginning of spring.
So, changing track just a little bit…but maybe not all that much, Easter is a season of celebrating new life – Jesus coming forth from the tomb making new life possible for all who believe and follow Jesus. So, since spring is the season of new life, here’s the question I want to ask today… what are you planning on growing in the garden of your spirit? More plainly stated, how are you planning on growing spiritually in this season? Then the corresponding question is where are you going to plant these seeds? What is going to be the map of your spiritual garden?
What I’m getting at with this is…what is your plan? How are you intentionally going to foster spiritual growth in your life, especially in this season of Easter…this season of new life? If Nancy and I simply left our garden plot to pure chance, nothing would grow other than weeds. Oh, maybe there would be a volunteer tomato plant or bean plant, but the plot would mostly be weeds. I believe the same is true for each of us spiritually or as followers of Jesus. If we don’t have a plan…if we aren’t intentional…if we just leave it to chance, the main thing that will grow in our spirit is likely to be weeds. And of course, weeds in our souls are those things that become obstacles to following Jesus or living out God’s Kingdom to our fullest.
John Wesley believed in being intentional about the seeds to plant in one’s life. This is why he developed small groups. It is also why he emphasized spiritual disciplines and encouraged the small groups and individuals to participate fully in practicing the spiritual disciplines and making them a regular part of one’s life. Those actions become patterns, those patterns become behaviors, those behaviors become habits, and habits become qualities and characteristics that truly mark and are reflected in the life of a follower of Jesus.
My spiritual director will often ask me, “Keith, how are you praying about this situation?” Or, “Keith, how are you reflecting on this scripture?” In other words, she is asking, what am I intentionally doing in the garden of my soul. Friends, this is a great question to consider today and in this season of spring. What are we going to plant in the garden of our soul?” Let’s not just allow the weeds to take over. Let’s plant good seeds. Let’s nurture those seeds and watch as the fruit (the Fruit of the Spirit) come forth. Want to know more about the fruit of the spirit? Check out Galatians 5:22-23.
Pastor Keith