May The LORD The SPIRIT Fill Me To Overflowing.

The horticulture of the heart!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

"You are MY private garden, 

MY treasure, MY bride!" 

Song of Songs 4:12

"My Beloved has gone down 
to HIS garden, to the beds of 
spices, to feed in the gardens 

and to gather lilies." 
Song of Songs 6:2

I pray that in my heart and life,
GOD Almighty may find a garden 
of HIS own planting, where HE can
talk with me in the cool of the day.

Let my "winter of adversity" grow
submissiveness and patience
and prayer.

Let my my "spring of promise"
abound in hope.

Let my my "summer of attainment"
show the blossoms of thanksgiving
and humility.

Let my my "autumn of fruit" be
dedicated to GOD'S glory
and praise.

I would acquire skill in the horticulture 
of the heart . . .
  by meditating much in HIS Book,
  by sincere communing with HIMSELF,
  by keeping company with my Master's friends,
  and by kissing HIS chastening rod.

I must reverence GOD'S hedges:
  the restraints of HIS providence,
  the warnings of HIS Word,
  the bounds imposed by an
     enlightened conscience,
  the forbiddings of the HOLY SPIRIT.
I must have no wish for the profane
wasteland outside.

If the garden of the soul is to
maintain beauty and fragrance--
must not the waters of my spiritual 
life be constantly renewed?
Must I not return daily to the Well 
from which the living streams
flow ever forth?

There should be no weeds in
the garden of a regenerated life.
May the LORD the SPIRIT fill me
to overflowing, that my holiness may
be spontaneous, enthusiastic, exuberant--
not fettered and checked by the weeds of sin.

So I shall walk in peace and pleasantness;
and in the garden GOD will talk with me.

"Oh, I pray that the cold north wind and 
the soft south wind may blow upon my 
garden, that its spices may flow out in 
abundance for YOU in whom my soul 
delights. Let my Beloved come into HIS 
garden and eat its choicest fruits!" 
Song of Songs 4:16

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"The Resurrection".