Psalm 1:2-3 - The Fruit

Rooted & Fruitful: Growing in Every Season

“But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about His Word. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.” — Psalm 1:2–3 (NLT)

We’ve been focusing on what it means to be rooted deeply in the Living Water—Jesus Himself. Last time, we talked about surviving stormy seasons, those inevitable trials that shake our branches and test our faith. Today, we’re shifting our focus to the fruit our lives are producing.

Because here’s the truth: the fruit we’re bearing is evidence of what we’re soaking up.

Abiding in the Vine

Jesus said in John 15:1–5 that He is the true vine and we are the branches. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. It’s only by staying connected to Him—abiding—that we are able to bear fruit. Not just any fruit, but the kind that lasts.

This is the same picture as Psalm 1: a tree planted by water, nourished and thriving in every season.

What Kind of Fruit?

Galatians 5:22–25 answers that beautifully:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”

These aren’t just nice attributes—they are signs of spiritual transformation. And they are impossible to manufacture on our own. Only the Spirit can produce this kind of fruit in us. It’s the result of deep, ongoing connection to Jesus—the Living Water.

So what does this fruit look like in everyday life?

• Loving the unlovable

• Experiencing peace that passes all understanding

• Having patience under pressure

• Expressing kindness even when we’ve been hurt

• Reflecting the goodness of God in the mess

• Remaining faithful through doubt

• Showing gentleness in a harsh world

• Exercising self-control when emotions run high

  
  

We can’t fake this fruit. It flows from abiding in Jesus.

Guarding Against “Flesh Fruit”

Our flesh doesn’t like this fruit. Left to ourselves, we bear something very different:

• Unloving

• Impatient

• Harsh

• Unforgiving

• Selfish

• Out of control

  
  

Our feelings can’t be trusted. We need to guard our hearts, lean into spiritual disciplines, and put on our armor daily. Time in God’s Word, in prayer, and in stillness before Him are how we get our roots deep into that Living Water.

A Personal Story: Lament & Fruit in Pain

Recently, I walked through a painful family situation—conflict with adult children, adopted and biological. I felt hurt, disrespected, and honestly, unloved. I went on a prayer walk—crying, lamenting, confessing honestly before God. I even admitted, “I don’t like them right now… even though I love them.”

And in that raw place, God met me. As I poured out my heart, He began to turn my prayers from self-pity to intercession. He reminded me that His heart is for reconciliation and restoration. And that I need to trust Him with the outcome.

This is what fruit-bearing can look like: loving through pain, choosing forgiveness, staying faithful when it’s hard.

Maturity = Sweet Fruit

Spiritual maturity doesn’t mean we’re perfect. It means we’re growing to look more like Jesus. As 1 Peter 5:6–11 reminds us, God will restore and strengthen us after the suffering.

But there’s purpose even in the trial:

“These [trials] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith...may result in praise, glory and honor…” — 1 Peter 1:6–7

Mature fruit is sweet and healing. Immature fruit, picked too early, is bitter. Time in the Vine produces sweetness in us.

A Path to Growth

2 Peter 1:5–10 gives us a growth pathway:

• Faith → Goodness

• Goodness → Knowledge

• Knowledge → Self-control

• Self-control → Perseverance

• Perseverance → Godliness

• Godliness → Mutual affection

• Mutual affection → Love

  
  

If these qualities are growing in us, we will be effective, productive, and fruitful.

How to Get Our Roots Deep

Here are some practical ways to draw up the Living Water each day:

• 🕊 Schedule a Daily Business Meeting with God

• 📖 Prioritize Quiet Time

• 📱 Scroll Scripture Before Socials

• 🚶‍♀️ Seek Solitude

• 💡 Memorize Scripture

• 🌬 Practice Breath Prayers

• 🌙 Pray or recite Scripture when you can’t sleep

  
  

And I’d love to hear your ways! Share your rhythms in the comments below.

The Fruit Reveals the Root

“By their fruit you will recognize them…” — Matthew 7:16

“They took note that these men had been with Jesus…” — Acts 4:13

Your fruit tells the story of what you're soaking up.

When our roots are in Jesus, fruit will grow—every season, even in hard ones. That’s what it means to live a rooted, fruitful, Spirit-filled life.

So let’s dig in deeper. Every day. Let’s remain in the Vine. Let’s bear fruit that reflects Jesus—because the world needs it more than ever.