As we enter prayer today, we pause to be still, to release any anxiety or tension we’ve been carrying around and fill ourselves with God’s peace as we prepare to meet with him. As you breathe deeply allow yourself to become more aware of God’s presence. As psalm 139 says: “I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
⁸ If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.”

Spend a few moments recognizing God’s Spirit before you, behind you, above you, and beside you. You are truly surrounded by his presence, his love, his kindness, and his goodness.

Rest here as long as you need.

Can you picture it? Can you visualize the difference between these two plants? One is stunted, it hasn’t reached its potential growth. It’s dry, brittle and withered. It’s been deprived of nourishment so long that it’s slowly turning into nothing more than a tumbleweed. However, on the other hand is the image of a tree planted along the river. Its roots have grown down into the source of water. No matter the weather, it’s thriving. It’s healthy and green and its branches are heavy with delicious fruit.

Which one of these plants do you feel like today? Maybe not your physical body, but think about your soul and your spirit. Are you parched and dehydrated? Or are you full of life and nourishment. Spend a few minutes talking with God about the condition of your inner plant.

As you read the passage again, pay attention to the reason behind the difference between these two plants.

The plant that’s withering and stunted is the one who finds its source of nourishment from humans and the things of this world. The plant that is thriving is the one who is deeply rooted in the river of the Lord, their trust is firmly planted in God. Where have you been placing your trust and hope for the future? Have you been looking to manmade authority and security? Relationships? Politics? Financial stability? Or have you been trusting God? Are you confident in His provision and guidance and wisdom?

This passage doesn’t say that heat and drought will not come to those trees planted by the riverbank. It says that when the heat gets turned up and when seasons of drought come that they will be UNBOTHERED and UNWORRIED. Isn’t that what we want? Don’t you want to be UNBOTHERED when things don’t go how you expected? Don’t you want to be free of anxiety even in long seasons of uncertainty?

Trusting God is hard. I know that full well. When life feels uncertain, it even seems LOGICAL to turn to human wisdom and strength as a source to sustain us. Yet, this passage tells us that trusting God is the source of our peace. How do we do that? One way is to park our mind on what is true. Specifically what is true about God. God sees you. True. God loves you. True. God will not leave you. True. God is FOR you. True.

Spend a few moments meditating on these truths and any others the Holy Spirit uses to encourage you today. Allow these truths to grow your roots as you meditate on God’s character and love. Picture your roots plunging deep into the life-giving waters of God’s love and strength. Picture yourself as the tree by the water—nourished and secure.

Stay here as long as you need.