I recently returned from a trip out West. I got to see so many beautiful trees; aspens, redwoods, and all kinds of pines and cedars. And then I came home to the Southeast where we have these grand oak trees. Oh, they're just so majestic, so big, so huge! The other night, the wind was really blowing, and I was looking out the window and I saw just the tops of the trees swirling and moving. 

But the tree itself stood still.

It reminded me of the Psalmist who wrote, “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3 (NASB) 

I love that verse because sometimes we have trials and concerns and circumstances that leave us feeling scared. We can feel like we are swaying and moving and be fearful. But you know, when we plant our feet, our heart, in the living stream, the living water, God's Word, Jesus, Holy Spirit, then we are firmly planted there. 

We shall not be moved. 

So not only are we steady, secure, and immovable, but we produce fruit. What is the fruit? You know, the fruit in Galatians Paul talks about: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB) We talk about the fruit of the Spirit of lot, I know, but it's such a beautiful thing. 

The Spirit is life-giving. 

Even in those times when the winds blow and our circumstances are chaotic and everything seems crazy around us, stay firmly planted in who you are in Christ, in His Word. Our fruit is produced in seasons; we can be kind to the unkind, when we need to show love to the unlovable, we can. When we need self-control when we feel tempted, that's an option for us always. So I encourage you today as you look at trees swaying in the breeze and know that you're firmly planted by the streams of living water in Christ Jesus.