Hello Friend,
Welcome to 2016 – your year of establishment. As is my custom, I started the year from the book of beginnings and a few verses in, I already have heard a word.
Most of the world’s greatest achievers today are established – planted-grounded. Their foundations are deeply rooted so much so that a breaking news or shift in the world economy does not move them. They are firmly fixed, fastened and furnished. How do they achieve this?
They understand the principles of sowing or better still investing. They recognise the fact that nothing materialises out of thin air and so they spend a lot of time digging (researching), seeding (investing) and watering (sponsoring) their seed- dream – idea.
God had completed the creation of the heavens and the earth and having rested, he made man – his ultimate creation and grandest project. We understand by ecology that living things need an environment to rest, feed and grow. The same applies to human beings- they need a home to live in and nurture their young, a shelter from the changing weather and a safe place from the evil happening around them. For Adam and Eve, that place was Eden.
Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. Genesis 2:8
Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. Psalm 127:1
Whilst the responsibility of building the home was up to Adam, God ensured their provision, safety and comfort by planting them a garden. A garden is a portion of land where a variety of plants including flowers, vegetables fruits and herbs are cultivated. Oftentimes, it is a yard or lawn adjoining a house – it is beautiful!
There were no plants or vegetation to cover the earth. The fields were barren and empty, because the Eternal God had not sent the rains to nourish the soil or anyone to tend it. In those days, a mist rose up from the ground to blanket the earth, and its vapours irrigated the land. The Lord God planted all sorts of beautiful trees there in the garden, trees producing the choicest of fruit. At the centre of the garden he placed the Tree of Life, and also the Tree of Conscience, giving knowledge of good and bad. A river flowed from Eden to irrigate the garden, and from there it separated into four smaller rivers. Genesis 2:5, 6,9,10.
There was a life tree in the garden. God intended for Adam and Eve to eat of it and live forever. What a loving God! What’s more interesting is that he sent rain to moisten the ground before the shrubs and herbs appeared. He set the atmosphere just like he did before you showed up – He prepared your Mom and enabled your Dad. It may not have been perfect but it was ok. It could have been worse (dry) but he sent the rain – a new house, job or perhaps a pay rise! You were born to bring about a shift. Why don’t you take a minute to praise God for rain… for you… for change?That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither– whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3
It’s quite a privilege to be planted – to be beneath the surface and connected to the nutrients essential for growth. How much more by streams of water – with limitless supply – more resources than you need …always thriving, never weakening? Can you picture that for a second?
Some years later, Jeremiah by unction declared:
They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers.
Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf,
serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season. Jeremiah 17: 8
Both the Psalmist and Prophet speaks of the righteous man – one who shuns evil and trusts in God. Who says there’s no reward for holiness? Not to say we should refocus and serve for the perks. The labourer is surely worthy of his hire – if you do not get tired of living the right way (doing good), a timely harvest will ensue. You can even have peace in drought but you’ve got to be in position.
There is nothing a good person can do when everything (foundations) falls apart. [Emphasis mine] Psalm 11:3
Naturally, the process of planting and burying are almost indistinguishable. Both involve digging and placing something in the ground except one springs up faster – the seed, although there is hope for a saint in the coming of our Lord Jesus. Therefore, it is important to not mistake the Lord’s planting for burying. Those dark seasons or places have been orchestrated for your development – You will emerge!
And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters never run dry. You will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour. Isaiah 58:1, Isaiah 61:3b
See, it’s all about the glory and at the end of the day, it’ll show forth! God will demo you for the world to look on. You are bigger and better than what you look like now. There’s such a brilliance and richness about you – your full worth is ineffable.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:12-13
The Psalmist herein notes the condition for flourishing as being planted. Do you desire to grow? Are there areas of your life you wish to make steady progress in? In order for that to happen, you roots need to go ad grow down before sprouting up.
I decree by faith that you will produce on demand – grow multi-fruits this year. Your leaves will not wither, nor will your fruit fail. Every month you will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to you. Your fruit will serve for food and you leaves for healing. Ezekiel 47:12