This time of the year, harvest is on the horizon. Love the end of summer fruits and veggies and the fall delights soon to come. Makes me think of spiritual parallels...
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Psalm 1:1-4
I want that "prospering in all he does" and "yielding fruit" and "not withering" part, don't you? How can we become women like this? Instead of ones that get blown away by the winds of life?
Here's what this Psalm exhorts:
1. Not following wrong counsel. Sounds simple and straightforward, doesn't it? But it's not. Wrong - wicked - counsel is everywhere. Magazines, well-intentioned friends, talk shows, and blogs :) It's extremely easy to find (and to follow). It's harder to learn to discern wise counsel from the wicked. To recognize lies in contrast to God's ways. And then to obey it. But that's what successful women learn to do.
2. Loving the Truth and the ways of God. Making God's Word a priority in terms of time and treasure. Studying it. Finding joy in it. It's a challenge to find the time to do this in the midst of all our demands. But successful women learn that this is the key to meeting all those demands. Just like we eat because we're hungry, not because we have to - successful women feast on The Word of Life.
When these things characterize a life, that person will be full of life. Vibrant, constantly nourished by life-giving water. This life will be like a strong tree that won't be torn down by strong winds. Its leaves won't dry up when the heat bears down.
Instead, this life will be a source of fruit for those around it. Rich. Abundant. Prosperous.
One last thought - this fruit is borne "in its season".
Fruit is borne in one season but it's been planted and fertilized and nurtured throughout preceding ones.
Hmmmmmm.
May we be ones that are tending to our vines so that the season of fruit production will be rich.
Reposting from August 2014.