Planted by the Water

Read

Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 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."

Think

Have you ever seen two trees, one green and full of leaves, and one dried up and sad looking? Ever wonder why one is doing great and the other is barely hanging on? A lot of the time, it comes down to water. The healthy tree found water. The sad one did not.

The Bible starts off the whole book of Psalms with a picture of a tree. It says a person who loves God and thinks about his words is like a tree planted right next to a stream. Its roots reach down into the water. So when the hot summer comes and everything else dries out, that tree stays green. It even grows fruit.

Now here is the bridge. That water is a picture of God and his words. When we spend time near God, reading the Bible and thinking about what he says, it is like sinking our roots down into a stream that never dries up. We get strong on the inside.

Look at that funny word in the middle: meditates. It sounds fancy, but it just means to think about something over and over. Like when a song gets stuck in your head and you keep humming it all day. To meditate on God’s words means to keep them in your head like that. You turn them over. You remember them.

Hearing God is not only about quiet moments with your eyes closed. A huge part of it is soaking up his words until they are stuck in you, the way a tree soaks up water. Then, all day long, those words are there when you need them.

You do not have to be big or old or super smart to be a strong tree. You just have to stay close to the stream. Keep coming back to God’s words. Little by little, your roots grow deep, and you become the kind of kid who stands tall no matter what.

Apply

Sink your roots – Pick one short Bible verse and read it three times today: once in the morning, once at lunch, and once at night. Let it get stuck in your head like a favorite song.

Pray

God, I want to be like a tree planted right by your stream. Help me love your words and think about them all day. Grow my roots deep so I stay strong and close to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.