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 1:3, ESV).

Our church recently had a 75 Hours of Prayer drive. People signed up for 15-minute time slots, as many as they wanted, and prayed during their time. We had over 150 people praying! During one of my times, I had Psalm 1 come to mind. As I read through and meditated on that Psalm, the Lord impressed several things to me. I'll share a few of them over the next few weeks, starting with this post.

When I meditate on Scripture, I often follow an ancient four-step process, known as Lectio Divina.

1. Lectio (reading)

2. Meditatio (meditation)

3. Oratio (prayer)

4. Contemplatio (contemplation)

At each step, you carefully and thoughtfully read the passage of Scripture, listening for the Lord to speak. If a verse or phrase seems to "wiggle" or grab your attention, pause and consider. Listen for God to speak through his Word. What is he directing you to do? How is he leading you to pray? What is he revealing of himself to you? What is he reminding you of? Is he calling you to anything? These are questions that can focus your attention.

That early morning prayer time, as I worked my way through Psalm 1, verse 3 caught my eye. The tree "yields its fruit." Obviously, the word "its" wasn't bold or italicized in my Bible, but it felt to me like it was. I re-read the verse, giving emphasis to "its." The still small voice of the Lord spoke in my thoughts.

The tree yields its fruit, not another's fruit.

An apple tree shouldn't get frustrated because it doesn't grow cherries. God didn't create it to produce cherries. He made it to yield apples.

It's easy to look at someone else's life and feel either a little jealousy at their success or a little insecurity at your own lack of success like their's. As a pastor, I sometimes struggle with looking at another church or ministry and feeling like I'm missing something. "Why can't I lead like that?" Maybe because I'm not supposed to. I'm supposed to be the tree God created me to be and bear the fruit he created me to bear. I'm not supposed to produce someone else's fruit.

Be faithful to him, and he will produce fruit in your life–the right kind of fruit. Don't worry about the fruit others are yielding. Just lean into Jesus and let him grow in you.

If you don't know what kind of fruit God created you produce, now's a good time to ask him. "Lord, what kind of tree am I in your garden? What fruit do you want to produce through me?"