Article by: Collene Borchardt
I have always loved flowering trees.
The beautiful blooms announcing new life bring me so much joy.
So, you can imagine my delight when my husband agreed to buy two for our yard!
I went to the local landscaping company and picked out two beautiful serviceberry trees.
A few days later two men brought the trees in and planted them. Before they left, they gave me some instructions on how to care for my new trees.
They told me when I watered the trees I needed to turn my hose on at a trickle pace and let it run for at least a half-hour.
“No problem,” I said, still filled with enthusiasm over my new additions, “It will be easy.”
I quickly discovered it was anything but easy.
In fact, it became a total nuisance.
First, I had to turn the water on and adjust it to a trickle pace. Then I had to pull the heavy hose all the way to my backyard and set it at the base of the tree. Then I had to try and remember to turn on a timer when I went back inside so I would not forget about it.
And then I had to do it all over again with the second tree in the front yard.
It was not quick. And it was not easy.
I started wishing I could just dump a couple of buckets of water by the trees and call it good.
There were so many other things I wanted to do on a nice summer day then spend an hour making sure two trees got their water.
And yet, if I were to just dump a bucket of water by the tree most of it would rush past the new roots to deeper ground.
The trees needed the slow watering process, so they had time to soak up what they required to grow their roots deeper into my yard.
And if they did not establish deep roots over the summer, the harsh winter winds could end up doing serious damage to them.
The trees did not need a downpour to grow. They needed a slow soak.
Soak Your Soul in God’s Word to Grow Deep Roots
Several times in the Bible people are compared to trees.
Psalm 1:3 TLB says, “But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely. They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.”
Psalm 52:8 TLB says, “But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.
But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. Psalm 52:8 TLBAnd Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT declares, “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Wouldn’t it be nice to not be bothered when the pressures of life heat up? Or not to be worried in seasons of drought when life is hard?
If I desire those things then the questions I must ask myself are:
- Do I rush through my quiet time, more concerned with checking an item off my list than connecting with Jesus?
- Do I skip time in God’s Word, reassuring myself that I will be able to get what I need this Sunday morning at church?
- Do I listen to podcasts or read Christian books, and yet neglect taking the time to dig into God’s Word myself?
It takes time to soak your soul in God’s Word and establish deep roots in His Truth. To focus on His promises, and teach your soul to find hope and confidence in Him.
When we rush our time with God, we experience only temporary satisfaction and fail to truly absorb and apply what we are learning.
Sermons, podcasts, and Christian books are wonderful resources to enhance our development as Christians.
But these resources are more like buckets of water than slow soaks.
When we rush our time with God, we experience only temporary satisfaction and fail to truly absorb and apply what we are learning.Soak Your Soul in God’s Word to Nourish Your Life
I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to remember everything I have learned in a 30-minute sermon.
And I often put a book down only to realize within a week I have forgotten most of what I have read.
While we may recall a few key points from a sermon, podcast, or book, often most of what is spoken or written tends to rush past our hearts.
We need the slow, daily watering of our souls by God as we pray and read His Word.
It is in these daily moments that He grows our knowledge of Him one drop at a time. As we spend time in prayer, our hearts have an opportunity to soak up His love and grace.
When we create space for quiet meditation on a passage of Scripture, we invite God’s Truth to trickle into our hearts.
It isn’t quick. And it isn’t easy. But it is worth it.
When we take the time to slowly let God’s living water soak into our souls, we train our spiritual roots to grow down deep into the solid foundation of His truth and love.
The practice of soaking in God’s Word strengthens our souls so that the harsh winds of life will not damage us so easily.
“But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” -Psalm 1:2-3 NLT
The practice of soaking in God’s Word strengthens our souls so that the harsh winds of life will not damage us so easily.4 Ways to Soak Up More of Jesus Every Day
I want to leave you with some practical ways to SOAK up more of Jesus throughout the day.
S = Spend time in God’s Word.
There is no substitute for this so set your alarm a few minutes early. Sneak in time on your lunch break. Or spend a few minutes before you go to bed. Find whatever time works best for you but be intentional about spending time in the Bible.
O = Observe God’s goodness all around you.
Pay attention to the little things. The words to the song on the radio and the colors of the sunset in the sky. The smell of coffee in the morning and the laughter of a child. These are all God’s love notes to you!
A = Appreciate what God has done.
After you observe and notice God’s handiwork all around you, thank Him for it all. Gratitude changes our attitudes.
K = Keep it up! This is not a one and done practice.
It is not something you daily check off your list. It is an every moment habit of walking with Jesus, noticing His little love notes to us, and thanking Him for all He has done.
Take the time to soak your soul in God’s Word and SOAK up the Living Waters today! It is well worth the effort.
Take the time to soak your soul in God's Word today! It is well worth the effort.– Collene Borchardt
Collene is a wife and mother of three children and three dogs. She spends her days caring for her home, working part-time, and managing a chronic illness. In her spare time, she loves to write to inspire and encourage women to find rest in Jesus while facing the chaos of life. Read more of Collene’s writing on her blog RestandChaos.com and connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
