Weeds don’t belong in a garden or anywhere else for that matter. But they will pop up. They fly in with the wind or spring up from something left unattended or come into the plot hidden within something newly planted. "Weeds" can take over a man’s plot, create an infestation, and choke out the good plants. Let’s apply similar weed strategies to the challenge men have with lust.
How do you eradicate weeds?
Get to it early. Respond at the first sign. Diverted eyes. Relocation away from the source. Refocus your mind and your heart. This is the easiest it will ever be to get it out. Take advantage of this and kill it before it grows.
Get the root. Be thorough in eradication. There is a lot at stake, don’t just remove the top, go to the source, pray, meditate, why is my desire for something other than what I already have? Get it all. Be thorough.
Be fastidious. Use whatever tool is required to get it out and keep it out. The Word, prayer for yourself/others, different strategies, different habits, refocusing. Jesus says this is a battle worthy of the sacrifice of an arm or an eye. Take it seriously, use what you must, but do what is required to get the weed out (Matthew 18:17).
May seem severe, but a plot overtaken is useless in the Kingdom. God’s bottom line is this- it is better to sacrifice and survive, then not.
Preventative Measures.
Don’t let it grow in the first place. Add ‘weed” barriers. What did Jesus recommend? Pray in advance “lead me not unto temptation.” (Matthew 6:13). “Flee” and “abstain” are also biblical themes.
Amend your soil. Rich soil doesn’t preclude weeds from growing, but it does promote the growth of good plants. Change what you desire, pray for a renewed spirit and a clean heart (Psalm 51:10-19). Renew your mind unto the good and acceptable perfect will of God (Romans 12).
Feed the good plants and let the good plants choke out the tares. As a man thinks so is he. Whatever we focus on, is what we will treasure, whatever we treasure is what will be in our heart, whatever is in our heart is what we will act upon. Feed the good plants.
Psalm 2 talks about “roots and fruits.” Where we are planted will determine what we grow, weeds or fruit. Plant yourself by streams of living water.
What happens to unattended weeds?
Unattended weeds take root and spread and become increasingly unmanageable. Unmanageable weeds take over your landscape and choke out any chance the good plants have to thrive. This becomes a rampant infestation and a sizeable project. It need not be this way.
Key: The best time to kill a weed is before it takes root, but if not, then at the first signs. Don’t let it grow. Weed it out!