Eliminate What’s Not Working

"And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.’” - Luke 13:8 
  
I want to spend one last day looking at the parable of the barren fig tree. What I want you to see is that the gardener recognized that the tree’s lack of productivity wasn’t due to the tree itself but rather the soil it was planted in.

By digging around the tree and removing obstacles, the gardener created an environment that could thrive. This important lesson reminds us that sometimes we must evaluate the conditions of our own lives to identify what’s holding us back.
 
What about your life? Are there beliefs, habits, or relationships that drain your energy and potential? Are you planted in soil that chokes your growth instead of nourishing it? This is the most challenging part of leveling up: letting go of the things and people that hinder your progress. Toxic relationships, negative mindsets, and unproductive habits can sap the energy you need to flourish.  

You may find that some people in your life prefer to take rather than give, draining you of positivity and hope. They thrive on gossip and negativity, contributing to an environment that keeps you stagnant. In this next season, it's crucial to free yourself from anything that disrupts your peace or steals your joy. As difficult as it may be, you have to cut out the relationships and habits that aren’t serving you.
 
To illustrate, I remember a day at an arcade in Orlando with my kids, watching a talented Pac-Man player draw a crowd. I admired his skill until he offered me a crucial piece of advice: “Stop going after the fruit.” Confused, I argued that collecting fruit gave me points. He explained that while that strategy worked in the early levels, as the game progressed, the goal shifted. Chasing the fruit distracted me from my primary objective, eating the dots and completing the maze.  

Like that game, many of us are distracted by short-term gains, leaving us vulnerable to setbacks. If you want to level up in life, you need to stop pursuing the distractions that feel good in the moment but hinder your true purpose.  

As you reflect on your life, ask yourself: What do I need to eliminate to create the fertile ground for growth? The gardener’s intervention teaches us that it’s not just about the tree. It’s about cultivating the right environment for growth. Embrace this chance to dig deep and remove the distractions, so that you can flourish as God intended.