The Upper Room Devotional 18 March 2026, Wednesday Message
Gardening with God
Megan P. (Ontario, Canada)
Today’s Reading
Galatians 5:16-26
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Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. – Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)
This year I have a community garden plot where I can grow vegetables. A few months after planting the seedlings and seeds, I am still enjoying the garden. But I had forgotten just how persistent and stubborn weeds are.
Week after week, it feels like I am pulling the same weeds from the same spots! It is amazing to me how quickly the weeds grow and how fast they can get out of hand if I miss a week of weeding. While the vegetables I have planted are steadily getting stronger and healthier, I am struck by the sheer determination of the weeds to grow despite repeatedly being ripped out.
How often do our lives parallel this scenario? God’s Spirit grows the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control in us (see Gal. 5:22-23). But there are weeds in our lives too: envy, cruel responses, anger, unforgiveness, or self-defeat. These things can be difficult to remove, but we must deal with them at the root. The good news is that we aren’t tackling the weeds alone. We have a faithful, compassionate Gardener who works in us and with us, helping us uproot the weeds and nurturing the fruit in us.
Thought for the Day
It is not my own will, but God’s work in me, that transforms me.
Prayer Focus
Areas of my life needing transformation
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March 2026 Wednesday Study Questions
Today’s Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for the work of transformation you are doing in us. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 18 March 2026 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More
