They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

[From Worship Resources Year B: Beginning Advent 2014 up to Advent 2015, Herald Publishing House, p. 158]

This morning, I went out to my garden and read to my small plants this adaptation of Psalm 1:

Blessed are those
who walk hand in hand
with goodness,
who stand beside virtue,
who sit in the seat of truth;

For their delight is in the Spirit of Love,
and in Love’s heart they dwell
day and night.

They are like trees planted by streams of living water,
that yield fruit in due season,
and their leaves flourish;
And in all that they do, they give life.

The unloving are not so;
they are like dandelions which
the wind blows away.

They will be isolated from wisdom;
for only Love knows the way of truth.

My hope is that my plants will hear the words of the psalm and especially take heart to the parts that mention “yielding fruit in due season,” “flourishing leaves,” and “in all they do give life.” I admit I also hope to scare all those dandelions from taking hold!

But admittedly this psalm is really for me.

I’m beginning to realize how important prayer is. The sound of living water is the sound of prayer to me. It’s a prayer of healing, a prayer of peace, a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer for strength. It is the source of all. To love fiercely as Jesus called us to do, we must have the source of living water close by.

For me streams of living water make beautiful sounds. They are soothing and calming. They relax me. The sounds remind me to stop, take a breath, and remember amid the busyness of life, what’s really important. Standing by streams of living water enables me to be more mindful of what my passions are and how those passions can be aligned with the needs of the world. It allows me to love courageously, to abide with Jesus Christ, and bear fruit that truly makes a difference to the people around me and the creation that nurtures me. Just like trees planted by streams, my roots are deep, grounded in truth.

Prayer Phrase

“See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Weaving a Life

Hold, or imagine yourself holding, a piece of patterned cloth. Examine it carefully. Notice overlapping threads, mingling colors that form the design. Write a journal entry or meditate about the threads and patterns of your life. What design do you see? How does the life pattern you are weaving create justice and wholeness in God’s world? What new pattern is God calling you to weave?

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.