This summer The Guide devotion will focus on the Psalms. Over the next three months different voices will share their favorite Psalm and how it encourages and challenges their life. We pray you will find in these devotions one of your favorite Psalms.
The Christian Ashram rhythm of life invites the participant into times of silence, prayer, and meditation on the Scriptures. The morning meditation at Sat Tal is called the Dhyan, which means, “meditation.” As we meditate on a certain chapter of the Scriptures, we share how the Holy Spirit is speaking to us in the passage and how the passage affects our lives. The morning meditation should not be limited to the Christian Ashram, but is a discipline we should undertake each day.
In Psalm 1:2-3 we read, “but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither, in all they do, they prosper.”
The Psalmist gives a powerful image. Our lives are best nourished when we are planted where there is consistent water to bring us life. Jesus, in the Gospel of John stated, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10). We also note that if we “Ask, it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7a).
The importance of daily meditating on God’s word for our lives gives us deeper roots that tap into the stream of living water. When we are walking through dry times in our lives where we may not sense the showers of blessings, we know our roots are planted deep.
In the village of Sobier, Haiti, an organization offered to drill a well for them. The local community told them to dig near the coconut grove beside the medical center. The organization did not listen to the local people and had the drilling company bore in a different area. They did not find water. When I asked the local leaders why they believed there was water near the coconut grove they responded, “We know there is deep water there because even in drought, the coconuts still produce fruit.”
As we meditate on the law of the Lord and our roots are planted by the streams of living water, we will continue to thrive and produce fruit in the dry times of our lives. We have confidence in Jesus as our living water who quenches our thirst and helps us to grow.
Are you daily meditating on the law of the Lord? Are you planted by streams of water in your life? Choose today to meditate on God’s word and witness growth in your life.
Prayer: Lord, plant me beside the streams of water as I meditate on your word each day. When I go through times of drought, remind me of your living water that enlivens me and brings about fruit in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.