Praise be to You, My Lord, for as the light of day supplies an essential element that a tree needs to grow, so does the light illuminated by Your Word provide me with an essential element for my growth and maturity. It provides the catalyst that causes my soul to prosper and gives me the energy to “fight the good fight of faith”. It is in the light that the tree flourishes and escapes the darkness, so it is with me.
In the same way that the roots of the tree run deep in the search of nourishment and moisture and anchor it … so do my roots go deep to seek Your love which nourishes my faith, refreshes my soul and brings stability my life. With You as the source of my sustenance, I am able to succeed and thrive. Because my roots go deep into a life with You, I know I will grow into the stature of the person You’ve always wanted me to be. In You, I know I have found a solid foundation for my life.
In the same way that the tree trunk bears the weight of its branches so they are able to withstand the forces of nature … so You bare the weight of my sins so that I too might live. As the trunk is the strength of the tree, so does Your standing with me give strength to my faith. I understand that as the tree trunk bears all things put upon its branches, so I too must bear the burdens and trials placed on me.
The leaves of the tree shade everything below it from the harsh sunlight and, in the same way, You to shade me from the scorching effects of temptations and trials. Under Your covering, I know I am safe and protected. In Your love, I have relief from the stresses of my daily life.
Like the branches that reach out from the trunk to gather light and produces fruit, so must I reach out to You for the things that will help me produce fruit with my life. Through our relationship, Your righteousness flows to me producing good works and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As I go through each day, I feel the security of being cradled in Your arms … protected from trouble and adversity … like a birds nest woven among the branches of the tree.
As I am drawn closer to You and seek Your will, I know that “I will be like a tree planted by rivers of water which yields it’s fruit in season and it’s leaves shall not wither and whatsoever it does will prosper.” And rather than walk with the wicked and consult with sinners, I will delight in Your laws and meditate on Your precepts both day and night. As a result, I will stand like a tall, magnificent redwood giving testimony concerning Your goodness and love. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Matthew 21:19-21 Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing but leaves. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again.” Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what I did to the fig tree, but you also can say to a mountain ‘Go throw yourself into the sea’ and it will be done.”