As followers of Jesus, God’s deepest desire for us is to be walking reflections of His heart to a world that is lost. But we aren’t always effective representatives of our Father. We falter, we sin, and we are imperfect at best. In our weakness, we may be tempted to hide and put on a performance—acting out the part of a “good Christian” while not truly glorifying Christ with our thoughts and actions.
In Isaiah 58, the Lord holds up a mirror to His people, and it’s not a flattering one. They were doing all the “right” religious things—fasting, praying, and showing up—but it was hollow. They were going through the motions, seeking God’s favor while mistreating others, living for themselves, and ignoring the hurting.
God wasn’t moved or impressed by their empty actions.
His Word shows us that true worship isn’t about performance. It’s not keeping up appearances or checking spiritual boxes. God doesn’t delight in practices that seek to cover up hearts full of pride, judgment, or apathy.
Instead, He tells us what He does delight in:
- Freeing the oppressed
- Feeding the hungry
- Clothing the naked
- Sheltering the homeless
- Lifting burdens
- Ceasing gossip and slander
- Helping those in trouble
God is so kind as to give us a foundation for the life He seeks for us to cultivate—a life that reflects His heart. He faithfully acts in all of these ways on behalf of us, His beloved children. What a joy to be able to join Him in His work!
Though this narrow road is not always a painless one, God graciously pours out His promises to us.
For those who walk this path, Isaiah 58 offers a cascade of blessings:
“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” – Isaiah 58:11
What a picture—a well-watered garden. Lush. Alive. Rooted in God’s provision. Overflowing with life that refreshes others.
A Well-Watered Garden… in Kenya
Last month, we saw this imagery come to life in a very tangible way.
Justin and Susie Galford, dedicated volunteers and advocates for orphans, came alongside our partners in Kenya last August to plant a garden just outside the home. And not just any garden—this one is designed to nourish the children physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s a place where healthy food will grow, but also where the seeds of healing and restoration are being sown. In the garden, they can see a physical representation of the Gospel—how God plants the seed of His salvation in our hearts and grows and transforms us into a new creation.
When we visited recently, we were overwhelmed to learn that this garden had been growing all kinds of crops for months, significantly reducing the amount of produce our partners needed to purchase and blessing the children and caregivers with fresh, nutritious food. Our prayer is that this garden will be a sanctuary—a visible, living testimony to the growth God brings when we live according to His ways.
One day, we took the children and caregivers out to the garden to tend to it together, singing songs while pulling weeds and praying for God’s protection and provision over this sacred space.
The truth is, this garden is God’s. He is the one who causes it to flourish. As we stood together, I thought of the children—their stories, their pain, their potential—and how tenderly God is planting seeds in their hearts and growing them to become more like Him. I thought of the caregivers, who are actively living out true worship as they care for their children each day. They each reflected God’s heart to me and encouraged me to wait patiently for the Lord’s work in the garden of my own heart.
Is the soil of your heart feeling dry today? Maybe you’re in a season that feels totally barren. God sees you and extends His love to you. He longs to see you become a well-watered garden, an ever-flowing spring. You can lean on Him to sustain you.
Maybe you have been stuck in a cycle of going through the motions and you long for your faith to be restored and revived. Turn to the words of Isaiah 58 and rest in God’s instruction. Allow yourself to soak in His promises and ask Him to guide your steps as you seek to reflect Him to the world around you.
Let’s not settle for empty actions. Let’s be the kind of people who delight the heart of God—people who pour out our lives in love, justice, and compassion. Living gardens who reflect our Father.
With over 25 years of experience and a network of like-minded people around the globe, The Boaz Project can help you show Christ’s love to scared and abandoned children.
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Planting this garden reminds me of the Garden of Eden where God’s perfect love was shown to Adam and Eve. I pray that this little garden of Eden nourishes not only the body but the souls of these little disciples. I pray I can assist this in this mission.
I met the four wonderful housemothers in Kenya so read with interest about the Well Watered Garden and the physical and spiritual lessons that can be learned from gardening all the way from the seed to the nurture of water and sun, weeding and careful cultivation, the sort that both plant and humans need to thrive. In addition, there is marvelous fresh food for the staff and children. That is a win, win situation.
Such a beautiful reminder that tending to the garden of our heart takes time. God is ever so patiently and tenderly caring for us and cultivating His heart throughout ours. If we desire to see fruit in our lives, we must intentionally tend to and care for the seeds that He plants in our hearts.
Cultivating with God. See God is a wonderful farmer. He always spoke through Jesus and the entire Bible about the land and earth They created for us. One of the lessons that God showed me yesterday, was through His armor. His armor is to be worn constantly. Never to be taken off, like your skin or your heart. If your skin is off (without treatment) you will be acceptable to diseases and flesh eating parasites. No heart (without treatment), no life. Both equals death. Like Eve, (in the Bible), she didn’t have on her armor. Which exposed her to death, “sinful death and “spiritual death,” all while she was in a vulnerable position, “hunger”. She didn’t realize without her armor, (The fullness of God), she was spiritually hungry. She chose not to go to her food supplier, God. The Farmer who knew and knows the soil and roots very well. He knew which were tainted and which ones were not. He knew which ones that would lead to eternal life verses eternal death. God’s full armor when worn constantly, will lead us back to eternal life with our Farmer, Shepard, and our Father, God. So please, constantly wear God’s full armor our eternity depends on it. (reference Gen. 2 & 3, Matt.13:36-43, Eph. 6:10-17)