Whenever a garden, vineyard or orchard produces "fruit" (I am including vegetables in this term) there are processes that must immediately happen if that fruit is to be used/consumed before it spoils. Three ways that are often used to preserve the fruit until consumption are:

1. Freezing (This involves cleaning, blanching and draining, but the fruit is preserved quickly and fairly easily. Storage and transportation are limited by the requirement of freezing temperature.)
2. Canning/Bottling (This also involves steps of preparation for both the fruit and the containers. Additionally, some form of heat and pressure will be applied to cook the fruit and again when the fruit is "sealed" into the jar or can. This is more time-consuming than the quick freezing process. However, the "fruit" is able to be kept without a freezer—on an ordinary shelf.)
3. Drying/Dehydrating (This is the most time-consuming and takes the longest time period to complete of the three methods, yet it usually keeps more of the original nutrients of the fruit intact. Fruit preserved this way usually has sulfur or other preservatives added to it. The end product is light in weight and can be transported and stored fairly easily. Sometimes water must be used to reconstitute the "fruit".)

So understanding these three methods for preserving "fruit" helps us consider which one resembles the Holy Spirit’s work in our own life (garden) concerning our fruit.

If we are producing fruit, then are we stopping short of letting Him preserve the fruit that we have allowed Him to grow in our life?   We may actually get all the way to the ripe stage and then let circumstances, people or our own selfishness rob us of the blessing of the fruitful vine/field.  (Blessings of fruitfulness:  Proverbs 11:30, 12:14; Isaiah 32:17; Hosea 10:12; Matthew 7:16,20)  We cast the fruit on the ground (through impatience, anger, bitterness or unforgiveness) or we squander it on others or eat it up ourselves (by envy, greed, pity, false compassion or pride) or the enemy comes and steals it (through lies, deceptions, gossip, and fear of man.)

If you feel that your fruit is ripe in some areas, then focus on just those areas for awhile.  The enemy is great at distracting us from the real purposes of our Father by getting us to focus only on what we aren’t good at or haven’t done yet, etc…don’t let him spoil your harvest of blessing by wrong focus.  Find out which of the three methods of preserving of your fruit is best for what He wants to do with your fruit.  Different fruit is best preserved in different ways.  Spend time talking with the Gardener of your soul.  Discover which gifts and ministries He has desired to reveal your fruit through!  Don’t let your fruit spoil before it can be used! (John 15:16)

I have allowed the Master Gardener to grow the fruit of mercy in my garden.  I have seen it growing and getting ripe.  I have often missed the blessing of fruitfulness by squandering my fruit on a person or situation that the Father never intended to use it in or for--and then the fruit is spoiled.  I have learned more patience in the giving of this fruit.  I have learned to preserve it till the right timing, and I have been very blessed in seeing it applied correctly.

Personally, the way the Father has been preserving fruit in my life is by the canning/bottling method. He allows a trial in my life (garden) that tests the purity and ripeness of a particular fruit—like serving. Circumstances heat up and the pressure is there.  I have to choose to give Him the fruit of serving because I can’t either emotionally or physically do it.  After that choice is made, He works in me sealing that fruit, preserving it, making sure it will last until He is ready to let me serve with it or until someone needs that fruit given to them.  If I would choose to not give Him the fruit of serving, then I try to do it myself, in the flesh, by my strength and I end up hurt, frustrated, and usually for me--exhausted.

I have also had the fruit of patience preserved by the freezing method.  I remember feeling that I didn’t have any energy and that the Father wanted to infuse me with strength, but I just kept going my own way. Finally, I couldn’t even get up out of bed in the mornings.  I started asking for patience in this situation because I wanted to go and do--and He said to me, "REST."  Then, as I did try to obey and make sure I rested, He quickly and very lovingly renewed my strength!  Like the freezing method of preservation, He plunged me into the heat and then quickly brought me up and out—very refreshed.  I now trust Him to preserve that patience that I learned, by listening to Him tell me when to REST and when to go full steam ahead!  I need that patience to encourage me to wait to do the urgent and to only focus my energy on the priorities in my life!

The dehydrating method of preserving my fruit is the toughest one for me.  It involves a longer, more drawn out time of dryness in my relationship with my Father.  Sometimes, doubt or unbelief try to convince me that the fruit isn't really there at all.  Like an oasis in the desert, I cling to His promises of being my Gardener, knowing this is part of His preservation of the really good fruit that needs special attention.  One of those fruits in my life that was put through the "drying" time was self-control.  I am not sure that all the fruit remained during this time.  However, I did get to "eat" some of it later, so at least some survived.  It is the fruit that I need the Holy Spirit to "water" or reconstitute for me most often.  Especially when unexpected circumstances occur that change plans suddenly--known as accidents.  I have learned through using the fruit of self-control, how to control self (thoughts, attitudes, actions) in a way that pleases the Father.  He wants us to use our preserved fruit--rotating it and adding to it, so it is always fresh and full of life.  ("But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."  James 3:17-18)

Bearing fruit, preserving fruit and multiplying the seeds of your fruit are all important to the Master Gardener.  The best part is that He is really the One who oversees the whole operation--our part is simply to obey by faith.  We trust Him to do what He said He will do--and then we simply rest in His Love for us!