This summer our family has spent countless hours picking puncture vine from our pastures. Also known as goat heads, these leafy vines web across the ground, producing pebble-like thorns that flatten tires and terrorize bare feet. They grow like crazy and carpet the soil, crowding out productive plants. To eradicate goat heads, this wicked weed must be pulled out by the root. Any roots left in the ground regrows another mean goat head.

Inside the house is another story. The goat head thorns stick to shoes. They walk into the house with someone. They drop off on the carpet. Half asleep on the way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, they spear bare feet like poisoned arrows. I’m wide awake now with a bleeding heel. For some reason (maybe because I’m a barefoot girl) it tends to be me who gets stabbed by household goat heads.

Battling these goat heads reminds me of my fight to grow God’s grace in my life. Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

From time to time, most of us struggle with bitter roots in our faith life. Three bitter roots in particular:

Perfectionism (a lack of grace turned inward).
Judgementalism (a lack of grace turned outward).
Legalism (a lack of grace turned upward).

According to the Bible, what causes these “ism” roots?

It’s missing the grace of God. And missing the grace of God is surprisingly easy. Grace comes through relationship and a relationship takes time and attention.

In the midst of missing grace this past year, legalism especially had been creeping into my life. Blindly serving God is easier than having an honest bond with Him. It takes time to nurture bonds. Raising seven children doesn’t leave a lot of room for quiet moments with the Lord. I used to get up early to have my time with God, but during my last pregnancy, I found myself too tired to keep this up. Once the baby arrived, I was even more tired. My morning devotions now often take place in the middle of rowdy boys and a fussing baby. A few times a week I try to get up earlier than the baby (who is usually up by 6:00 or 6:30 a.m.) to be alone with God. But this is hard right now. Sometimes I feel too tired to have a relationship with anyone ~ even God.

This past year, I’ve also struggled with God because He’s allowed trials to keep coming when I’m already overloaded. We all have trials so I won’t get into mine today, but the truth is, I need more grace in my life. To get more grace, I need more time with God. Time to really listen. Really hear. Really do what He says to do. “Lay down your life. Pick up the cross. Offer your cheek in love to those who spit upon you. To those who treat you badly because of me.”

To say, Thank you, Lord for humbling your servant, when I would rather cry and complain over my trials…

Like freeing our land from goat heads, it takes time and effort to pull up the bitter roots of legalism, judgementalism, and perfectionism that can creep into our lives. This is done by the giving and receiving of God’s sweet grace.

The Bible says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” Ephesians 5:8-10.