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Verse To Abide In
“He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”” Jeremiah 17:8 ESV
Digging Deeper
From MacLauren’s Expositions on biblehub.com
“.…The plant is fixed; but ‘I saw men as trees-yes! but as ‘trees walking.’ We can walk, and can settle where we shall be rooted and whence we shall draw our inspiration, our confidence, our security…The man that chooses to cast his whole self into the arms of God, and in a paroxysm of self-distrust to realise the divine helpfulness and presence, that man will soon know that he is ‘planted by the river.’…
Where else will you find love that will never fail, nor change, nor die? Where else will you find an object for the intellect that will yield inexhaustible material of contemplation and delight? Where else infallible direction for the will? Where else shall weakness find unfailing strength, or sorrow, adequate consolation, or hope, certain fulfilment, or fear, a safe hiding-place? Nowhere besides. Oh! then, brethren, do, I beseech you, turn away your heart’s confidence and love from earth and creatures; for until the roots of your life go down into God, and you draw your life from Him, you are not in your right soil.”
Link to the above excerpt: Jeremiah 17:8 Commentaries: "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.
Let’s Pray
John 7:37–38, Rivers of Living Water
37 yOn the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, z“If anyone thirsts, let him acome to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, bas the Scripture has said, c‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of dliving water.’”
Dear God, enable me to become that blessed one whose roots are planted deep by your river, drinking in and overflowing with your living water. As the heat of the trials increase, help me to trust in you instead of letting fear rule my emotions and actions; help me to have you as my trust instead of being anxious from relying on anything or anyone else instead. Please guide me to keep my eyes focused on you (Hebrews 12:1-2) so that my leaves will stay green and fruit will be produced in the mist of daunting unknowns and perplexing possibilities. “You are my hiding place; You, Lord, protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah. We ask you to help us to be aware and listen as you instruct us and teach us in the way we should go; help us to be willing to learn so we receive your counsel with your eye upon us (Psalms 32:7-8 AMP).” In the name of Jesus, who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:23 NIV). Through your Spirit, living water (John 7:38-39). Amen!