This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. “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.

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Dear God, the verses for today were 7 and 8, but I don’t think they are complete without 5 and 6. One of my main jobs is fundraising for the nonprofit where I work. There are times when I remember to pray to you about organization, our work, our funding, etc., but there are also times when I inadvertently put my hope in people because they are the ones who write the checks. It’s a tricky balance. I know that my most powerful experiences have been through seeking your provision and then having something extraordinary happen, but too often I forget that and start looking to others for my provision.

In what other areas of my life does this manifest itself? The first thing that comes to mind is politics. We expect our politicians and judges to fight our battles for us instead of getting our hands dirty ourselves. Instead of looking to your power and asking you what you would have me do (besides throw my weight behind a corrupt politician with whom I have little in common except for my stance on abortion).

Father, I want to be nourished by you so deeply that you just absolutely flow through me in the worst of droughts. I want to be inspired by you and use that inspiration to attract others to you. You are my God. Help me to plant myself in the middle of your living water and not next to someone else just because I think I can get something I want from them. Help me to get next to them for their sake and your glory, not mine.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen