Rooted

"Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish."

Psalm 1:1-6 NIV

The word for the month is ROOTED. Seems like the perfect word to start out a new year. What are your roots digging down into, what is the nourishment they are pulling into your being? One of the things I have loved most about being on maternity leave is being in the word each morning. I have never been a morning person, but babies don't really care about that. You are completely on their schedule. As such, my normal nighttime routine has shifted to the morning. I have found my day goes by so much better when it starts with truth. It is my armor for the day to endure whatever comes my way.

I love the passage up above because I think tree imagery is the perfect example of testing the soil, foundation etc that our roots are digging into. Are you producing fruit, or are your leaves withering? I have found sometimes it is best to not fully trust your own self-evaluation and maybe ask those in your circle. There's never a better time than now to evaluate what you are rooted in.

Father, each new year brings the opportunity to reflect. However, each new day also gives us the opportunity to receive your grace to start over. Wherever we find ourselves please give us the endurance, and wisdom to remain rooted in you. When we dig into your word, move it beyond a simple task on our "to do" list, to something we know our very being depends on. May your truth be the nourishment we need to produce fruit. We want to love well, extend grace, and share truth with those we encounter.

Amen,

Ash