Marriner’s Moment: Emerging Victoriously: A New Day – Part 3

By Pastor Melvin O. Marriner
Grove Church

As master gardeners in this vineyard of life, we must work daily to become good stewards of that which Christ has blessed us with, if we want to reap bountiful crops and emerge victoriously.  Here are some suggestions on how we can become master gardeners of our lives in 2017:

Daily nurture our crop and pull out the weeds of destruction and defeat:

The storms of life have a way of washing away our joy, peace and happiness, but through it all, we must never lose focus of God and His promises to us.  Indeed, His promises are more important than people’s opinion.  Christ has given us dominion over our garden of life, and yielding good fruit does not come without some sacrifice. Dig in.  Be steadfast and unmovable.  We shall reap what we sow.

Believe that we have the capability and the right tools to yield good crops.

We must see ourselves winning in the garden of life.  Don’t depend on others to tell us how bright our future will be, because God’s Word does.  We diminish the authority that Christ has given us when we restrict ourselves to the opinion of others.  Moreover, when and if there is a discrepancy between what we see and what God said, we must trust God.  This year, I encourage you to walk like you KNOW God’s promises are true, and witness the abundant fruit of His blessings.

Work hard to yield a bountiful crop:

Have you ever had a plant that died because you failed to water it, nurture it and give it love and attention?  Don’t get distracted in your garden of life.  Keep your focus on Christ and you will see the fruits of your labor.  God wants us to operate in our giftedness all the time, not just when things are comfortable.  And, He can bring forth our gifts in usual places, so don’t be afraid or uncomfortable planting in an unfamiliar garden. God is with us in our discomfort and works that discomfort to the greater good.

Be positive and prepared to harvest what God gives you.

We must be ready to receive and harvest the blessings God gives us.  Throughout our season of life, God sends tests our way to strengthen, develop and draw us closer to Him.  A faith that has not been tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.  We must not be afraid of failure; we can always replant again, if need be.  Throughout this ‘pruning process’ we are strengthened and, ultimately, we become the master gardener that God is grooming for more blessings.

”Peace and power

© Dr. Melvin O. Marriner
Grove Church
January 2017