I remember growing up in church singing a song that says, "I shall not, I shall not be moved; I shall not, I shall not be moved; just like a tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved." Then it said, "I'm on my way to heaven, I shall not be moved, on my way to heaven, I shall not be moved; just like a tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved."
Ever heard that song? If not, then perhaps you're familiar with the scripture that says, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1:1-3 KJV empahsis added).
Don't you want to be like that unmovable tree? How can that be accomplished? Before you can know that, you have to understand something about a tree planted alongside streams of water. You see, a tree planted by a stream has roots that grow deep into that stream. It is totally dependent upon that stream for its nourishment and water; and because its roots grow so deeply into the streams of water, no matter what outside forces come against it, it remains buttressed, supported, and stable.
Isn't that awesome? No matter what storms come to beat upon that tree; no matter the heat or other elements it may be exposed to, the tree wont' wither. Rather, it stands firmly because its roots go so deep.
This is who we ought be in our walk with God. We must be rooted in Him the way we need to be, so that, when the storms of life come to beat upon us, we won't be moved.
Sadly, many of God's people are looking for the formula for success and prosperity in their lives, while overlooking what the Word of God has to say about the matter. According to the Psalm quoted above, if you're rooted in the Word of God; if you dwell on His laws; if you immerse yourself in God's ways; and walk upright before Him, then you will flourish and prosper.
When others are struggling to make ends meet, worrying about the
economy and the crises we face, those who are rooted in Christ will
have all the sustenance and provision they need to thrive.
But too many of us have gotten away from God's way. We're too caught up in the world's system. We conduct our lives as if God is not our main source of power, provision, and productivity. We've lost our focus somewhere along the way. As a result, we no longer depend upon Him as our source... and we wonder why our lives are in disarray. We're stressed out. We're not prospering. We're constantly frustrated. We feel empty.
It's because we've been moved. We've gotten out of our place. We've abandoned our security and safety.
The safest place in the whole wide world is in the will of God! "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10 KJV).
If, perhaps, you've been preoccupied with finding ways to navigate your way through this world without Jesus Christ at the center of it all, get back in your place. Go back to trusting God. Go back to losing yourself in His presence. Go back to studying His Word and meditating on it. Go back to singing songs of praise and worship to Him.
I'm reminded of a song that says, "Take me back, take me back dear Lord, to the place where I first received you. Take me back, take me back dear Lord where I first believed." It's time that we get back to the basics. Too many of us are too far our out of balance, and frankly, the life we're living is not the life Christ died for. Stress, anxiety, and worry is not the plan God had in mind when He created us.
Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they might have life and that more abundantly." All the we need is in Him. So, why then, are we seeking safety, security, and solace everywhere but in His arms?
Oh, God so much wants to be at the center of our lives again. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm 100:3) He did not intend for us to have our attention diverted away from Him by the cares of this life. Instead, He is beckoning us to run to Him and confide in Him as our sustainer and provider.
Then and only then, all those other things we seek will be added to us. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33 NKJV).
As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com
