Like A Tree Planted By Streams Of Water

We live in a world that seems to be full of negative words and actions.  We are even shocked when someone gives us a compliment.  Sometimes we may have a hard time receiving a positive compliment because we are so used to hearing negative ones.

It is very easy for us to develop a negative mindset and become cynical even if we are followers of Jesus Christ.  We can get sidetracked and fall into the pit of negativity and hopeless feelings if we are not careful.

We believers in Jesus Christ must guard ourselves from such pitfalls.  We can do this by making sure we spend time with God in prayer and meditating on the Bible, His Holy Word.  We need to have our minds focused on Jesus and we need to take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ.

We need to make sure we are following the Lord and not the world.  Are we being influenced by those around us?  or Are we influencing the world toward belief in Christ?  Sometimes it is very easy for us just to, "go with the flow".  We believers are not to go along with the flow of the world.  We have been called to be in the world, but not of the world.

We have been called to go against the grain of society and live for Jesus Christ in hopes to draw people to Him.  We believers in Jesus Christ ought to be different in such a way that draws people to the Savior of the world.  We are His witnesses.  Sometimes our witness suffers because we get afraid and don't want to stir up trouble for ourselves.

The other night before I went to bed I read my devotional which I normally do before I pray and go to sleep.  The devotional was based on Psalm 1.

1 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, 
                                                                           

2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.

3 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.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

The next day as I was working a woman walked by me and said, "You are like a tree planted by the streams of water." and she just kept on walking.  I said, "Thank you.  I try."

Some days I fall far short I am afraid.  There are times I get distracted by the things of this world and I go off course.  I try to meditate on God's Word everyday.  I try to read the Bible and pray.  I want to be a good witness for Jesus in hopes of drawing people to Him.

I know that in my own power I can't even come close to doing that.  I need to submit to the Holy Spirit more often to accomplish those things in my life.  I can't do anything without the Lord, but I know and I am still learning that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

May we no longer, "go with the flow", with the world, but may we live for the Lord in hopes of drawing people to Him.  I want to live for Jesus.  I want Him to get all the praise and honor for anything that I do.

I don't feel I do all that much honestly, but whatever I do I hope that He is blessed by it and I hope that people are drawn closer to Him.

Lord,

We praise Your Name.

Help us to be like a tree planted by streams of water.

Help us to be more like You.

Draw us nearer to You.

Create in us a hunger for Your Word.

Come soon Lord Jesus.

In Jesus Name we pray,

Amen.3