Such a one is like a tree planted near streams; it bears fruit in season and its leaves never wither, and every project succeeds. Psalms 1:3 (NJB)

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There is a river that flows from the throne of God, down the celestial main street and into the hearts of those who believe in the lamb (Revelation 22). And then the river flows like streams of living water from within those who are one with Jesus (John 7).

We hear the river whispering, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37, NIV) We feel its moisture hanging cool in the air, and we stretch and then we stretch again to reach the river’s edge.

It woos us to dwell within it, to dig deep with determined roots, gnarled fingers inching, bit by bit, toward the source of life. Our thirst brings us to the river and in the river we abide. We hear its song, “Abide in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:4, NKJV)

In the river we abide and living water flows inside — of us — and in this God-nurtured state, we no longer need the sun-splotched leaves of cynicism or the lifeless branches of sin that drain away the Jesus joy within us.

In the river, our counsel now comes from deep unto deep. Rooted in the river, we stand firm in spite the storms and we sip sweetly in times of drought. Otherwise, we would simply blow away or burn up when faced with the dry and dusty, nasty, now-and-now of life. Otherwise, we would have no root, no direction, no purpose.

Yet, as for us; we hear the river’s song: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself …” (John 15:4, NKJV)

And, nourished by the river of life, the fruit we produce is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a, NIV)

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