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“ Blessed is the man(woman) who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he(she) shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." ~ Jeremiah 17:7-8
Here is another wonderful encouraging verse from the Word of God for those who trust in the Lord and has the Lord as their hope. His promise to us is that if we trust Him and put our hope and faith in Him, we will be like "A Tree Planted by the Waters". And no matter what the circumstances surrounding us are, we will still continue to flourish and yield fruit even in the most unlikely places or circumstances. I interperet this to mean many things. From our spiritual relationship with the Lord, to our own individul personal lives and livelihood and our relationships with others. And, I am sure others will have additional intrepretations that I haven't even thought of.
For me, I understand this to mean that no matter where we are standing in our lives, whether we are prospering or suffering, good times or bad times, He has promised us in this one verse (among many many others throughout His Word), if we trust in Him, we will continue to grow and flourish and produce good fruits, no matter what the conditions are...even under the most dire of circumstances. Good fruits, in my intrepreation doesn't necessarily mean just material things. In fact, the more fruitful things have nothing to do with material things or possessions. Yes, every good and perfect gift (both materially and spiritually) is from God above (James 1:17). But, it is our spiritual relationship with the Lord is what matters infinitely more than our finite material blessings. The learning and knowing that He is taking care of all of our needs, every single one of them, both materially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Not only in the present, but for all eternity. His blessings and gifts are immeasurable. All we are called to do is trust Him, even in the worst most "dry" and "un-fertile" places.
This verse also gurantees us the comfort and knowledge that we will not be anxious or fearful no matter what is coming our way. I intrepret this to mean the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells with us will provide us with a peace within that is beyond human understanding, beyond what the world is capable of providing. Beyond our own natural tendencies and inclinations toward fear and worry and strife. The power of the Holy Spirit helps us and guides us to be at peace knowing that we will yield fruit, no matter what the outer appearance may look like...i.e., we are not only okay but flourishing no matter what, as long as we trust in Him. Jesus promised that once He left the disciples to go back to the Father, the Counselor (Holy Spirit) would come to dwell within them and all believers and He promised to leave us His peace. A peace not of this world but a peace from Our Lord.
"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."~ John 14:25-27
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you."~ John 16:13-15
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." ~ Romans 5:1-5
Nor cease to yield fruit. Nor cease = Never ceasing. Never ceasing to yield fruit, means never ceasing to yield fruit. This is an eternal promise and free gift from our Lord God, a foreshadowing in the Book of Jeremiah, of His Son, Jesus Christ, and an insight into eternity to those of us who trust and put our hope in Him. Meaning, we will drink from the Waters of Life and eat from the Tree of Life that never ceases to yield fruit.
Revelation 22:1-3 ~ "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him."
Revelation 22:17-18 ~ "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."
Proverbs 11:30 ~ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he(she) who wins souls is wise.
Thank you Lord, for blessing us with so many wonderful gifts. Help make Your power real to me and to all believers. Help all believers to grow and flourish in all circumstances. Help us to see beyond the appearance and surface of things and see into the deeper matters of You, Our Father and Our Lord. Help us to see, feel, trust and know that You are in control of all and hold a promise for us, a gift of eternal life in Your Precious Son, Our Savior, and a multitude of spiritual blessings and fruits beyond our very short-sighted and limited viewpoint. Help make it real to us. Help us to trust. Help us to know that wherever we are and whatever is happening around us, that You have given us the power of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray...Amen.
by cj patterson
"But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
