From Wilted to Flourishing by Bonnie Douglas

I love plants. Green is my favorite color, and having beautiful plants around inspires me and provokes thoughts of joy, life, and growth. The only problem is … I have a history of failing as a plant mom! More times than I can count, these precious symbols of life and growth became wilted—clearly missing the care and attention they needed.

This is the primary image in Psalm 1. The psalmist describes the righteous this way:
“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” (Psalm 1:3 ESV).
God’s Word and God’s way are meant to benefit and bless us; to connect us to the stream of living water so that we can grow into strong, resilient disciples of Christ.

In contrast, the psalmist offers a stark picture of the wicked in verses 4 through 6 of Psalm 1. They will wither and dry up. Disconnected from the source of life and love, they ultimately face death and destruction.

Sadly, it took until my late thirties before I got serious about learning how to care for plants. Now I’m diligent about identifying deficiencies and providing for them, but those years taught me what leaves look like when they are cut off from the water they need.

Psalm 1 urges its readers to delight in God. In the same way Paul encourages believers to direct their thoughts in Philippians 4:8, the psalmist says that those who are blessed and righteous meditate on the things of God.

So, how will you plant yourself in God’s Word and God’s way today? How will you strengthen your commitment and connection to the source of living water?

When we plant ourselves daily in God’s presence, we position our hearts to move from wilted to flourishing.

Guest Contributor: Bonnie Douglas