God spoke the phrase "dwarfed fruit trees" to my spirit. He showed me that many individuals and even entire churches are frustrated with their fruit production and their progress in general.
I did not know dwarf fruit trees were a real thing until I googled it and sure enough, they exit. They are much smaller than a normal fruit tree and produce less fruit. These trees are cultivated for people with space constraints.
Song of Solomon 4:12-15 came to mind: "A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; ... Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard, and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: A fountain of gardens, ..."
Plants are growing in your garden. The garden is symbolic of your spirit. Think about the Garden of Eden in Genesis. This was a place where Adam and Eve had intimate fellowship with God. They walked with Him in the cool of the day. It’s in your spirit that you can have intimate fellowship with your Savior. Plants that bring glory to God should be growing in your garden or spirit. The Bible says that we are to “abide in the vine” and produce the “fruit of the spirit”. Your spirit is like the Garden of Eden, where the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.*
God never intended for dwarf fruit trees to grow in our gardens. He wants full-sized fruit trees that bring Him much glory. Holy Spirit impressed on me the importance that nothing be allowed to grow in our garden that would hinder the growth of fruit-bearing trees. If weeds or undesirable plants (anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, jealousy, fear, etc.) exist in our garden, they hinder the growth and production of fruit-bearing trees. The fruit-bearing trees cannot get the sunlight they need. They cannot get the space they need to thrive. They are strangled by the presence of something God never intended to be in our spirit. The result is our fruit-bearing trees become dwarfed.
"Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits." I spent some time with Jesus, allowing Him to inspect my garden and sample the fruit. I repented of some things He highlighted to me that should not be in my spirit. I could see that these things were dwarfing my fruit trees. No wonder I have been frustrated with my fruit and progress. Jesus helped me uproot these things and toss them out of my garden or spirit. It was hard work but afterward, I felt really good. I asked Him what we should plant in their place and He began to nurture the dwarfed fruit trees. They perked up immediately, spreading their branches, and new fruit began to bud. It was beautiful! Loved bloomed extravagantly. Joy spread with leaps across the garden. Peace took root in every empty space. You get the picture. Patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control began to thrive again.
I admonish you to do the same.
Invite Jesus into your garden
to inspect and sample the fruit.
In Song of Solomon 1:6, the bride confesses to neglecting her own vineyard/garden. At the end of the book, Song of Solomon 8:12, she declares that her vineyard/garden is always uppermost in her mind or “is before me.” She admits that all of the fruit, “a thousand,” is rightfully His (Christ’s), but she recognizes that she benefits “two hundred” from keeping her vineyard. Our work is to keep (maintain and guard) our spirit. Solomon penned, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”. Think about Adam in the book of Genesis. He was to keep the Garden of Eden so that God could enjoy walking in it.*
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* This is an excerpt from my book: The Greatest Romance, a 10-week devotional exploring all the symbolism in the Song of Solomon (like the spiritual significance of each plant listed in SOS 4). The devotional will greatly enhance your intimacy with Jesus.
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