I am not a gardener, but there are times that I have entertained the idea that I might become one. Most of my attempts have been completely unsuccessful. I planted sunflower seeds. They were immediately eaten by birds. I tried to grow a tomato plant in a pot and got only one tomato the whole season. When we bought our house I moved bushes and tried to work with whatever plantings were already there to create some color, but I really didn’t know what I was doing. I dug up peonies and moved them because they were in the middle of the yard. They never blossomed again. There were things I tried to plant that didn’t grow and things I tried to kill that wouldn’t stop growing, like poppies. They came up inside and outside of the garden borders!

Of all my attempts at gardening, I will claim one gardening success. One fall, I planted bulbs and every succeeding spring the crocuses and daffodils I planted would bring the first burst of color into our front yard. They came up every year without fail and without tending. Once I put in the bulbs, all I had to do was trim the yellowed leaves after they were spent. I have concluded that is the best way for me to garden. Plant once, enjoy without fuss.

But in order to grow things that bear fruit, I would need to put in a whole lot more effort. I’d have so much to learn! The soil needs to be properly prepared. Plants need to be set in the proper depth and spacing.  After planting, I would have to fertilize, prune, weed, water and tend them regularly in order to create the necessary conditions so that I might have something to harvest. Even at harvest time, I would need to gather the produce just so to protect the plant. In addition to all that effort just to reap a harvest, proper aftercare would be required in order to ensure a healthy harvest next year.

So much effort! Is it all worth it? To some of you reading this the answer is a resounding yes! To others like me, it would be worth it, if I decided that it was a priority in my life. What would make it a priority? Let’s say, if the economy totally bottomed out, or some major disaster prevented grocery stores from being the primary place to procure food items. In that scenario, my only option for survival would be to plant and harvest food. Survival is definitely a priority! I’d be committed to learning every thing I could because continued existence made it a necessity. Wouldn’t you?!

Yet, there is fruit that every believer in Jesus Christ is compelled to produce. How committed are we to cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, the character of Christ, in our lives? The truth is that sometimes we let that fruit lie dormant. We don’t nourish it or provide the opportunity for it to grow. We don’t tend it. We don’t even look for it. We don’t make it a priority. What can we do to change that?

When I planted my tomato, I was constantly checking to see if there was fruit growing. My eyes strained to find the flower that indicated a juicy tomato might soon make an appearance. Then I’d look for the tiny ball that might become a red, ripe fruit. I longed to see that fruit flourish. I was disappointed to only have one tomato, but grateful to harvest something! I tried different things to help that little plant grow, but I honestly wasn’t willing to do whatever it took to nourish my tomato and help it prosper. I didn’t try to figure out what it needed to grow. I planted it, occasionally watered it and looked for fruit. It needed more than I was willing to give it, so one tomato was all I got. Is that the case with spiritual fruit in your life? Perhaps your are giving your spiritual life some nourishment, but you notice that you aren’t getting the kind of fruit you would like to. Is it time to step things up? What kind of life do you need to live in order to be the kind of person you want to be? If you want to demonstrate the character of Christ, the fruit of the Spirit, what are you doing to help it grow?

God has designed you and I to live fruitful lives that demonstrate His presence and character to those we come in touch with. In order for us to be the kind of people who exhibit the character of Christ, we need to intentionally nourish the spiritual fruit in our lives. What do you and I need to plant in order to grow the character of Christ?

What causes the character of Christ to grow in my life? Simply put, God’s presence is what causes His character to grow. So how do I get in touch with His presence? My personal time of prayer, Bible and worship is only a start. I need to reach out for His presence throughout the day, in every challenge, in every victory, at every moment, if possible. It’s a discipline that I am working on. I can get so caught up with the tasks in front of me that I forget that He is right there with me, waiting for me to talk to HIm, waiting to help me be who He wants me to be. I just need to give Him the space to do it.

I have found that connecting with God’s presence in the midst of everyday life is as much about acknowledging Him and making space for Him as it iis about anything else. I dont connect with God’s presence when I DO the right things. I connect with God’s presence when I have the right heart, when I am open and available so that His Spirit can guide my thoughts and attitudes. When I make room for Him to show me what I need to change, and then empower me to actually change, then His character in me is shaped and the fruit of the Spirit grows.

I want more than just one measly tomato growing on my spiritual plant. The only way that is going to happen is if I commit to doing what I need to do in order for spiritual fruit to grow in my life. It starts with making room for God in my schedule, yes, so that I can take time in His Word, to worship and pray. But I also need to make room in my thoughts and attitudes throughout my day, so that I can let Him change me. Then I will live a satisfied and fulfilling life full of fruit that nourishes others, the character of Christ. Isn’t that worth the effort?

Key thought: A fruitful life starts with making room for God.

A Scripture to consider: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A YES challenge: Take some time to look over your schedule. Are you making enough room to spend time with God? As you review your heart attitudes throughout your days, are you making space for God’s Spirit to guide you? What is one change that you will make so that your life yields a better harvest of spiritual fruit?

Prayer: Father, I have taken time to spend time with you. You know my schedule. I don’t think that I can take more time. If I can, show me where. Even if I can’t set aside more time, I can set aside more heart. Help me to be more aware of You in the midst of my day. Help me to make space for Your Spirit to guide me and make changes in the way that I think, speak and act. I want to represent You well to my family, my neighbors, my coworkers and all those I come in contact with. Help me to make changes in how I live so that I can be a person who bears fruit for You. Amen.