By: Sarah Holt

Blessed is the one

    who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

    or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and who meditates on his law day and night.

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 1:1-3

One of my favorite symbols for our spiritual health is gardening. Here we see the psalmist use it, too. Plants require three things to survive: air, water and sunlight. Through these elements, life can take root. As followers of Christ, we breathe in the spirit of God when we accept Him as Lord of our life. Every day becomes an offering as we seek to walk in step with the Spirit. Our relationship with the Son is essential to daily learn what it looks like to be a follower of Christ. By drinking the living water, God’s Word, we learn God’s character and His truths. These three things are essential to growing our relationship with God and allow us to thrive “like a tree planted by streams of water.” 

What we meditate on feeds our minds, and what feeds our minds seeps into our souls. This nourishment from within then produces fruit in our words and actions. All of this comes from seeking God’s Spirit and walking with Him. This cycle is critical to growing and thriving in our relationship with God. The purpose of quiet time is to intentionally commune with God. It is equally important, as the psalmist acknowledges, to not walk, stand or sit in the company of the wicked. Like a gardener uprooting weeds, we also use a quiet time to observe what is choking out or stealing from our spiritual growth. 

So, how do we become women who delight in the law of the Lord? We must prioritize spending time with God. This means we must intentionally carve out time set apart from the noise of life and spend time alone with Him. Everyone is different, so you’ll need to find what works best for you in the season of life that you’re in. I prefer to spend my quiet time with a morning cup of coffee before my day starts. Currently, I am going through books of the Old Testament that I haven’t read yet. I read 1-2 chapters and use my S.O.A.R. journal to observe, apply and reflect (pray) about the Scripture I’ve just read. I also love imagining myself simply walking in a field with Jesus and having a conversation. The psalm says that when we are rooted in God’s Word we are blessed, like a tree planted by streams of water: able to thrive in its season, not withering but prospering. The first and most crucial step is carving out the time in our busy schedules to pray and read God’s Word.

If you already spend daily quiet time in God’s Word, maybe the next step for you is practicing a new spiritual discipline. Some examples are Lectio Divina (meditative practice of reading God’s Word), prayer walks, Examen (reflecting on your day in prayer), fasting, practicing gratitude, solitude or silence. There are many ways to expand what your quiet time looks like and deepen your intimacy with God. 

Let us be women who relish cultivating our relationships with God through prayer, meditating on His word and communing with the Holy Spirit.