Advancing Encouragement By:
Bishop James Jr. Hairston

Jeremiah: 17:8: For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

This is a time in the land of Judah where it was very grim, dreary, and dark during the last period of Judah’s apostasy. For forty (40) years the young prophet Jeremiah planted his life in Jerusalem during this time as the Lord’s messenger. He saw his nation pass from the happy and prosperous times enjoyed under King Josiah to the state of iniquity in which the people lived during the days of Judah’s godless kings and the invasions by the Babylonians and the final destruction of Jerusalem. However, God always preserves a remnant during rough and corrupt times and you see here in the text where the man or woman of God that is planted by the waters something takes place in their life that empowers them to stand strong during these periods. Have you ever witness a drought because things seems to be all dried up around you where peace, joy, happiness, and prosperity has been sucked out of life? While in a drought, maybe financially or physically and especially morally spreads throughout where you find people leaves are withered and dried up spiritually and physically with life problems and immoral behaviors. Nevertheless, for you your leaves are always green even in the mist of a drought because you are planted by the waters and your roots spreads by the rivers and you do not worry when trouble comes or be anxious during the drought and you will always bear fruit through it all. Your roots are filled with Gods Word of promises, commandments, faith, hope and love that makes you strong where your leaves are always green, Psalms 1:3. When times are bad you will continue to trust in the Lord and be obedient to what He has called you to do because your leaves are always green and you are planted by the waters. In verse 7 the word says blessed is the man that trust in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord. Therefore, today no matter what you are facing continue to trust in the Lord and let not your leaves wither. It is in the drought of life when our faith is tested the most and in our roots is God’s word that nourishes our soul and spirit so our leaves will always remain green in Jesus Name…

James Jr. Hairston