Jeremiah 17:5-8 NLT; This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.  But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

There is something about who I trust in that the Lord is trying to get through to me. As I read this passage in Jeremiah this morning, I saw how hopeless and futile it is to trust in what I see. I can’t put my hope in these things. I just can’t afford to. Trusting in myself and my abilities or my job, the bank, the doctor, it’s not where God intended my trust to be. I’ve grown so conditioned to turning to these things for the answers that God sometimes takes 2nd place. But look at the 2nd part of this passage; “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”

This takes me back to the number of years that each time someone gave me a prophetic word or anytime the Lord spoke to me directly, it was always, “Keep your eyes on Me!” Ok, I know I’ve always had problems focusing, but come on! Well, how many times  have I had to repeat something over and over to my children before they learned to do it right? Important lessons bear repeating, and some of us are just slow learners, but hey, I’d rather learn slow and get it well than never learn at all.

End result; “They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” I’m learning to tap into what’s inside of me, the Spirit of God. He’s my teacher, my source of help in trouble, my wisdom in tough situations always leading me into the way of truth. He represents the place that my roots grow deep in, the river that waters me. My fruitfulness is because of Him, not because of me. Fruit wasn’t meant for the tree, but that those around could be fed. 

Father, make me fruitful today, a disciple maker. May others drink from your water and eat from your tree of life. May your Word give turn them to have faith in You and not in man. You didn’t make us to be our own providers, but to be representatives of your great Kingdom, where YOU are King. Kings provide for their Kingdom. Thank you Lord that we only need to look to you for you are the author and finisher of our faith. In Jesus’ Name. Amen