By the River

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." -Psalm 1:3

Think about a tree growing beside a river. Would it be a dry, ugly tree with brown cracking leaves? No, that tree would always be alive and full with lush, green leaves. Even in the middle of a drought, that the tree would thrive because the river would give it all the water it needed.
"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water." The word he refers to godly men (and women). This individual doesn't listen to friends or other people who tell him to go against what God wants. He doesn't make fun of God, even if it seems like everyone else does. This man is delighted when he thinks about what God says, so the man does what pleases Him.
If you've made up your mind to follow Jesus, ask yourself if you fit that description. You are like that tree growing beside a river. God's Spirit is the river that flows by you and offers you all the life and strength you need. When you get your life from His Spirit, you're always able to succeed in God's eyes, even if everything around you seems out of control.