Lord, you have assigned me my portion and cup;
you have made my lot secure.

Psalm 16:5

Crabgrass and Weeds!

Shortly after the construction of

our house was completed, I decided to try my hand at gardening and landscaping. Where would I begin with such a monumental task? By the looks of the crabgrass and weeds, I knew I would have a real job on my hands, so I began by renting a tiller. As the tiller turned over the soil, many hidden "treasures" were revealed: rocks, glass, nails, and pieces of mortar, clay, former tree roots, and much more. After working hard to clear my future flowerbed, I watched it develop into a lovely part of the lot.

God Assigns Our Lot

God carefully plans out our lives and His plans are established way before the foundations of the world. When He assigns us our lot, He lovingly places on it His "hidden treasures". Perhaps He will sprinkle into the soil glass to cut our heart; nails and tacks to prick our soul; just enough top soil to enrich our lives; sandpaper to smooth out our rough edges; clay to keep us from becoming spiritual sluggards as we work our lot; and, rain to promote spiritual growth. Our mission is to clear it off and build something eternal on it.

God As Our Land Lord

Since God is our Land Lord, it is essential that we stay close to Him so we can consult Him when our lot needs to be maintained. However, no matter how hard we work to get our lot up and running, it will require the power of God to make it into something beautiful and lovely. . .something to which others will be drawn. And so it is with our lives. What will you do with the lot God has assigned you? Will you look at it with resentment, saying: "What am I suppose to do with this mess?" Will you call on the Land Lord and ask Him to help you creatively work out the lot He has planned for you?

Barren and rugged lots can be very discouraging, but what excitement we feel when we can see the Master Landscaper/Horticulturist working it into something more beautiful than our mind could ever conceive.

So, saints---this is your mission, should you choose to accept it:
"Whatever your lot may be, clear it off and start building!"

Prayer: Lord, you are the Master Landscaper of the lots you assign us. Help us, when we are tempted to compare, complain, lose heart about our lots, and try to fix them ourselves. Teach us to graciously accept each lot you assign us and with your help, make it into an unimaginable place of beauty. Amen.

Encouragement Tip:
Consider the particular lot God has handed to you at this time in your life. What will you do with it to bring glory to His name? Spend some quiet time reflecting on your lot and seek God's will in how you will clear it off and build something lovely on it. You’d be surprised at how creative you can become once you decide to look for God in the mix.

Share your response to this article?