He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3
Today I was driving with my Mom and we kept seeing trees that had fallen in the road. Not just a few, but dozens of trees had fallen. As I was trying to maneuver around them, I said ‘wow, I can’t believe how many trees fell, I know it stormed this morning but it didn’t seem this bad.’
My Mom said ‘yes, I heard about all the trees on the news. They said because we had such a drought this year, the trees were so dry that they simply couldn’t stand up under the storms.’
Hmmm. I usually get my motivations that way, from a simple statement that would mean nothing to anyone else but when I hear it God begins to talk to me. It was that way today. God began to talk to me about these trees and the effects of the drought.
Psalm 1:3 says that we should be like a tree planted by streams of water, which bear fruit in season and whatever we do will prosper. What I learned today was when we go through a time of drought, it affects our very root system and when a storm comes, we will break under the pressure of the storm. However, trees which get the amount of water they need, they stand through hundreds of years of storms and never break.
I don’t know how it is for you, but when I am dry spiritually, I know it. I may ignore it for a week or so, but I can tell when I am dry. How can I tell? Here are some of the signs that I am having a dry season spiritually speaking: I am not as patient as I usually am. Things that come up can steal my peace a lot easier than when I am not dry. My prayers are more from habit than from passion. All these things occur when I am dry.
But when I have planted myself before the Lord and drank of Him, who is the Living Water, I am a different woman. I have patience that amazes me. I feel strong in God. I am not easily moved no matter what comes my way. If something comes up I am quick to battle it with the word of God and remain in peace.
I think it is the same for many of us. Can you tell the difference when you have spent time with God and when you haven’t? I’m sure you can.
Water is vital to being able to stand firm and tall through every storm. It is vital to trees and it is vital to us. We have to consume our daily amount of Living Water from Jesus each day. I get my water from reading the word of God and spending time in worship. It only takes me a couple days to get dry, so I do this daily. It’s just like our bodies needing water to survive. Our spirits need a daily drink of Living Water to thrive.
Storms come and go, that is a simple fact of life. But they do not have to affect you and they certainly do not have to break you. Don’t be like those trees I saw today, broken and lying all over the highway for people to drive over. Instead be one of those trees who are still standing tall and firm through the storms of life. Let your firm stand be a testimony of your faith.
I will leave you with a scripture similar to the one in Psalms: Jeremiah 17:8; He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
You see, if we plant ourselves by the River, The Living Water of Jesus, our roots will go deep. We will never fear when heat comes we will always bear fruit and the drought will never touch us. Plant yourself in Him today and allow your roots to go deep.
