They are like trees planted by streams of water,

which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.

In all that they do, they prosper.  –Psalm 1:3 (NRSV)

In his book, Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You, John Ortberg encourages the reader to tend to the most important part of themselves, which is the soul.  He writes: “Our soul is like an inner stream of water that gives strength, direction, and harmony to every other area of life.” In essence, we all could improve in the ways we tend to and feed our souls. Each time I reflect on Ortberg’s words, I feel convicted because I often neglect the very thing that gives life and meaning to who I am as a child of God. The world with its distractions, cares, and complexities will often cause us to lose focus on nurturing the Spirit of God on the inside of us.  If we are not careful, we will be conditioned to care more about material things and selfish ambitions than the condition of our soul.  The writer of Psalm 1 reminds us that those who are firmly planted and anchored in the Lord will have deep roots that will sustain them in all seasons of life. I encourage each of you to continue to find those times and places in your life to slow down and connect with God. Not only will God sustain you, but God will give you wisdom and direction for the journey.

In Christ,

Pastor Cowser