Where Are You Planted?

It's September which means that I have "lost" two to three hours out of my schedule which is now being dedicated to homeschooling a first grader and preschooler.  Of course, it is not a true loss of time in that it serves a very valuable purpose, just a large adjustment that requires increased organization on my part.  Truly, I value the time we have learning together.  As a homeschooler, I am able to emphasize certain topics of interest and really be a part in my child's spiritual growth.  These were all the expectations I had heading into the commitment.

What I did not expect was my own spiritual growth as a result of reading a kid's Bible or explaining memory verses to her.  We are only into our second week, and I have already experienced this joy.  Colette's memory work has been focusing on the first Psalm, which I have read many times before, but as Scripture often does, it has revealed itself in a new light.  There is a beautiful visual of a tree in the verse, comparing it to a blessed man.  The tree is planted by a river and so it flourishes with this direct access to water.  Coming out of a very dry summer that required many waterings of the garden and a lawn that I gave up on, the verse struck a new chord with me.  Even with my faithful attendance to the garden this year, it's yield was considerably lower than last year.  The lack of the blessing of rain, no doubt, had it's effect.

So it made me consider how no matter where we are or live, we receive blessings that rain from heaven, sometimes sparsely and sometimes abundantly.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-45 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."  In other words, even those who do not realize the source, receive blessings from God.

But this Psalm speaks specifically to our ability to increase our blessings from God.  It compares a man to a tree by describing that it is where we plant ourselves, that affects our spiritual blessings.  A tree in a prairie will survive as long as it receives rain, but plant it by a river and it has a more certain case of survival.  It is planted by the source of life and draws from that source, with less concern for the spontaneity of rain.

As the Psalm explains, a man has an ability to plant himself near the source of life.  "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."  It is clear where you will find insufficient soil in the company that you keep and where you will find the source of life- in God's Holy Word.

It is followed by a promise for the man who wisely plants himself.  "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers."
So where are you planting yourself?  Consider how closely you surround yourself with God's Word, through prayer, worship and Bible Study.  Are you feeding your spiritual tree from a regular source or are you leaving it to be watered infrequently?  Examine what changes you need to make in your daily walk to bring about a good season of fruitful labors and if you choose your soil wisely, whatever you do will prosper!