Roots

Psalm 1:1-3
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

I love the picture Psalm 1:1-3 paints for us. Picture a tree right at the riverbanks, its roots going down deep into the soil, being nourished day in and day out. That is what you will be like when you get into God’s Word every day, letting His Word take root in your life and His Word will become your very way of thinking and living.

Now picture a tree that is perhaps 20 feet away from the riverbank. How deep do think its roots go? And that tree has to wait for the rain to fall to get nourishment. It’s the same for us, we only get the Word on Sunday then we are 6 days away from nourishment, we have a short root system. Let’s be a planting of the Lord, bearing fruit, our leaves not withering and prospering in all we do.
Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly.
Do I have Joy? Or is my joy dependent on my circumstances, or my mood?
What is my delight? Do I delight in God’s word?
Do I drink from the Living Water every day? Am I planted by the riverbank or planted far away?
God has given us the formula for success – success His way. (See Joshua 1:6-9)

Here is the argument: I don’t have time, if you knew what my day is like…
Everyone has the same 24 hours in each day, the same 7 days in a week. What’s the difference in the one who’ll make the priority of putting God first – His word first and having a rich prayer life? Dedication, hunger, persistence!

Be like Mary – get what can never be taken away. See blog titled “Balanced”

Here is another challenge – evaluate how you spend your time. How much time do you spend:
Talking on the phone
Watching TV
Checking email
Surfing the internet
Playing Farmville
Reading magazines
Worrying
Take action; be determined, look at your life and your schedule and make God’s Word a priority each day.

I will teach this till the day I die, it is that important.

Here are a few suggestions:
Don’t look at any forwarded emails; most of them are a waste of time anyway.
Set your timer for internet surfing so instead of spending hours you spend only a set amount of time.
Be determined not to watch any TV or read magazines, books, whatever, until you have been alone with your Lord.
Lay the phone off the hook and go get alone with your heavenly Father.
Every time you start to worry – stop and pray.

One more verse!
Ephesians 3:16-18 (New Living Translation) I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Be a Psalm one tree with your roots going down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. Stay immersed in the Living Water, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.