Devotionals for the Heart: The Anchor

The Horizontal Tree
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“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 (NIV)

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon when my family and I decided to take a scenic road trip to visit a relative. On the way to our destination, we passed a lot of rural areas with grassy fields, farmland, cows and horses grazing, and birds flying in formation. The blue skies were so picturesque, especially with the white puffy clouds that had the appearance of cartoon animals.

We had been driving for about an hour with another hour remaining to complete the trip. I dozed off a couple of times, but something caught my attention in one of the fields and I immediately woke up. It was a tree.

I always admire trees wherever I go. There is something about them that fascinates me.

Sometimes it is the height of the tree, or the colorful leaves. It could be the branches completely void of leaves, and sometimes it is the shape of the tree. In this case, none of those features drew my attention. Instead, it was the posture of the tree that raised my eyebrow. The tree was horizontal instead of vertical. It almost appeared to be a fallen tree, except it was not completely touching the ground.

At first glance, I thought the tree was dead, but when I examined it closely, there were green leaves all over the branches. The tree was thriving, even though it was not standing up.

How could this be? My eyes followed the bark from one end to the other, and then I realized that most of the roots of that large tree were completely submerged under the ground. The tree may have appeared lifeless, but that was not the case. The only reason it was able to produce green leaves is because its roots were firmly grounded in the dirt.

As we start this new year, it is important to consider where our roots are planted. Are we wasting time pursing distractions disguised as opportunities or are we investing our time in things that will make an impact and leave a legacy? Are our goals in alignment with the will of God, or have we already started down a path without asking His permission?

The only way for us to experience true happiness along with success in this life is if we are rooted and grounded in God. It is His promise to us when we make the choice to follow His direction. If we continually meditate on God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and obey it, we will prosper in our spiritual growth.

Moreover, the fruit that we bear will serve as a witness to God’s faithfulness.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Thank You for Your promises. We ask that You guide us as we go through this life. We want to be rooted in You so that we can experience the abundant life that You want to freely give to us all. Help us to spend more time in Your Word and in Your presence. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Anchor Holds” by Ray Boltz. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey.

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com