To desire is to long for something; desire is only the beginning of change – to desire change is not necessarily possessing that change; desire is the bare seed that’s looking for a fertile place to be planted.
Change is movement – a motion that is directed on a certain course.
Quite a few times I have heard someone say or have said myself that I desired change in a certain area of my life. So, do you think because it was desired that change automatically took place? No way!
Desire is a like a bicycle that has no wheels – it can’t go any place! Desire is like a seed that has no soil; it can’t grow! Desire is just a thought or longing, it is a stand alone.
To desire to change does not mean that change will occur – sometimes you have to get down and get dirty if you want change! NOW! What do I mean by get down and get dirty?
Let me explain it by putting it this way; let’s say that I have a backyard and in my backyard I desire to have a garden. In my minds eye, I can actually visualize that garden, even the kind of vegetables that I want to plant.
Now, mind you there is still grass in the area where I envision this garden, but if I want this garden to happen, I’ve got to plan this garden out; it’s a must for movement – for CHANGE to take place (the manifestation of the garden)!
How large of a garden do I want? What can of seeds or starters do I need to purchase and how many? Even with all that, I still have a lot more to do before I can even begin to plant the seeds or starters.
To start the process of “getting down and getting dirty” I have to:
- have on the proper clothes and shoes (gloves, hat, etc)
- gather the proper tools
- have my plan in hand
- begin digging out the grass
- tilling the soil
- treating the soil
- have the seeds/starters
- ample water
In my research on starting a garden, I came across a technique known as “Double Digging” and according to Wikipedia, double digging is a gardening technique used:
- to increase the soil drainage and ventilation
- it involves two layers of soil being loosened and is usually done when cultivating soil in a new garden
- double digging might be required every 3-5 years. In other cases, double digging is only really needed on starting a new garden.
It is noted that when you double dig the garden, it is actually better for the soil than using a machine. While doing it by hand is laborious, it is less likely to compress the soil and less likely to severely disrupt the natural structure of the soil.
When hand tilling soil, you are going deeper than a tiller, which loosen the soil to a deeper level. This in turn, helps to get nutrients and water down further in the soil, which encourages deeper and healthier plant roots.
Hand tilling soil with this method will adequately break up the soil so that natural elements, such as earthworms, animals and plant roots, will be able to keep the soil loose.
According to W. M. Hood, Professor of Entomology at Clemson University in South Carolina – he said “you’re not alone in your garden. Thousands of small creatures are laboring, usually quietly, alongside you. Their presence is a gardener’s gift.”
Now, many of us would think otherwise and try to rid our garden of anything that resembled any kind of “creature”!
Getting down and getting dirty spiritually; involves doing some hard work, “double digging”, going through the process for a desired result. It involves:
- being properly dressed in the whole armor of God (Eph 6:10-20)
- incorporating faith in the mix (Hebrews 11:1&6)
- having the seed and water of the Word (1 Cor 3:6)
- getting down and getting dirty involves using the weapons of our warfare to get rid of any thing in our spiritual garden that’s trying to destroy it (2 Cor 10: 4-5)
- getting down and getting dirty involves not stopping and pulling back when we see something that we think is not quite right or…
THESE are all things that could really help us with that desire/longing to turn into change.
One of the most vital things in this process of change is that we don’t have to go at it alone. God promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us; He is right there in that spiritual garden with us. (Hebrews 13:5)
Also, learning to let go and let God in the process of desired change is such a privilege; there are things only He can do and then there are the things we must do, however He is right there with us in the process!
The desire for change; in longing for that shift to be accomplished we’ve got to get down and get dirty, do the work; and always remember that we are not in this alone!
Psalms 37:4, the Bible says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” As you delight in HIM, those desires in line with HIS will shall be granted and there is no toil involved only delight, it’s just a matter of receiving; but that’s a whole ‘nother scenario that involves trust and …!
Elder Wardine Walton
As many students are varying levels prepare to graduate, I find this post to be very timely. The transition whether someone is continuing with school or moving on to a career requires change, which is why I thought this to be an appropriate message for this audience. As many prepare to move on to the next level, they must “get down and dirty”, one of the points you made regarding change. I think many will also benefit from knowing that they don’t have to do it alone. As God’s arms are outstretched toward us, we must hold on to his hands regardless of what type of changes we are encountering.
Great post!