Choose Where You're Planted

On Sunday I reflected on Psalm 1, and how the writer paints four different pictures of where we can be planted. Some are planted 'in the counsel of the wicked', in a place where they are receiving bad advice and getting input from all the wrong places. Some are planted 'in the way of sinners', surrounded by people and external influences (TV, films etc) which just drag them down. Others are planted in the 'seat of mockers', giving into cynicism and negativity. But some are planted by 'streams of water', prospering in whatever they do.

Sometimes we are powerless to control what life throws at us. We get ill, we get made redundant, people close to us pass away, other people let us down, life happens. Jesus talked about the storms of life, and none of us are immune to those storms. But we can control where we are planted. We can make decisions and choices that will mean we are either ready to face those storms, and prosper through them, or whether they will flatten us and leave us devastated. It was Erwin McManus who said that making choices is the most spiritual thing we do - the more I see of life the more I realise how true that statement is. So in 2010 I'm encouraging all of us to make some simple choices which will help ensure we are planted in a good place. Those choices lie in five different areas of life - all beginning with an F. They are:

1. Faith
2. Friends & Family
3. Finances
4. people Far from God
5. Fitness

OK I admit 4 is a bit of a cheat, but this is my blog so my rules apply! Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to be reflecting on each of those areas and how we can make sure we are planted in a good place for each one.

In the meantime why not take a moment to have an honest conversation with God about which of the four places the psalmist mentions best reflects where you are planted.

Simon.