“Tend the garden of your heart.”
That was God’s gentle invitation to me recently.
What did he mean?
I realized that there were some thoughts that had been encroaching on my peace. Like weeds, they were trying to take root in my heart and mind.
And God was inviting me to think about what he had to say about those things.
Because—just as the enemy has done since the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-24)—he will try to change my perception of reality and of what God has really said.
He will add words God did not say, suggest context that is a lie, and attribute a false motive to God. It’s all an attempt to lure me into a wrong conclusion about God’s plans for me, and a feeling that God has left me out of what is best.
But when I identified the weeds that were trying to take root in my heart, God brought to mind Scriptures that are the truth.
I uprooted the lies, and let my heart and mind be watered by the word of God.
~~~
The plans God has for me align with peace, a future, and a hope.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV)
~~~
I experience firsthand the love of Christ.
…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV)
~~~
There is nothing good that God will withhold from me.
He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
Psalm 84:11 (NASB)
Tending the Garden of Your Heart
Are there thoughts that have been intruding on your peace recently?
Ask God to show you the true words from him that he wants to flourish in your heart and mind instead.
~~~
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in him.
Proverbs 30:5 (NKJV)
~~~
The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)
This content and more appeared in the August 2026 email newsletter. Subscribe at amylu-riley.com/subscribe.
Text content copyright © 2026 by AmyLu Riley.
Scripture quotations marked NASB taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org
Scripture marked NKJV taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Plant photo courtesy Erdan Estremera on Unsplash.
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