Psalm 1:3 (NIV)
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
What a refreshing picture. Fresh lush green leaves on a tree laden with much fruit.
The Psalmist here likens man to a tree. He draws up this picture of a tree planted near streams of water. And because the tree is near the waters, its leaves are green and lush, they don’t wither. The tree bears fruit in season.
Now if you look at it, all of this is only because the tree is planted near the waters and so taking in water regularly. A tree that does not get water regularly, however, would be dry and shriveled up, definitely fruitless. Water is life to the plant. The Lord Jesus said,
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14).
Water is a symbol of life. To receive this water from Christ we need to believe Him. To believe Him we need to know Him. And to know Him we need to know His Word. We need to send our roots daily deep into His Word, spend time with Him regularly. For us as women, this means
- making sure that we are spending time in the word of God and in prayer every day.
- surrounding ourselves with other believers who can encourage and support us in our walk with God.
- actively seeking out fellowship with other Christian women and joining a church or small group.
- being mindful of the media and entertainment we consume, and making sure it aligns with our values and beliefs.
Where are you planted today and what are you taking in? Are you green and bearing much fruit for the Lord or dry and fruitless? Are your roots going deep into HIs Word each day? Or are you choked up by the cares and worries of the world? Are your roots gripped by fear as you see and read of the atrocious happenings around you rather than the truths of His Word?
The more the challenges of the world and difficult situations around, the more we need Him and His Word. Choose today to believe Him. Send your roots deep into His Word each day. Then like the psalmist said, you would be like the tree planted by the waters, lush and green, bearing much fruit, being a blessing to many.
Psalm 1:3 reminds us that when we are rooted in the word of God, we will bear fruit in season and our leaf will not wither. It’s a reminder of the importance of staying close to the source of life – Jesus Christ. It’s a reminder that when we are well-watered, we will be able to withstand the storms of life and persevere through difficult situations.
So, let’s choose to be like the tree planted by streams of water, let’s make sure our souls are well-watered by spending time in God’s word and in prayer. Let’s send our roots deep into His word each day, so that we may be like the tree, lush and green, bearing much fruit for the Lord, and being a blessing to many.
Father that I would be a tree that is firmly planted in You and Your Word, which bears much fruit for You, I pray.