Daily Devo
Flourish in His Courts
By: Jenny Hinners
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. – Psalm 92:12-13 (NASB)
How do we flourish the way Psalm 92:12-13 describes?
- Be righteous.
- Be “planted in the house of the LORD.”
a) Be righteous
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary describes righteous as “acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin.” Who is free from guilt or sin? Without Jesus, not a single person. We are only made righteous by our surrendered faith in Jesus. He is the only way to righteousness (Philippians 3:9-10).
b) Be “planted in the house of the LORD”
For the believer, the house of the LORD includes:
- The Church, a fellowship of believers – a place where the Lord’s people gather to worship Him (Colossians 1:24).
- The temple of our body, where Holy Spirit lives (1 Corinthians 6:19).
- Heaven (Psalms 11:4)
How do we "plant ourselves" in the house of the LORD? Plants and trees have roots that go deep beneath the surface. Following Jesus means integrating ourselves deeply so we will find the stability and nourishment we need. At church, that may mean connecting in a close-knit small group to nourish each other (Hebrews 10:24). On a personal level, that may mean prioritizing our one-on-one time with God. When we draw near to Him, He will nourish us (Matthew 6:6).
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise…. – Psalm 100:4
How do we plant ourselves in Heaven – in His courts? Thanking God places us at His gates: praising Him places us in His courts. Someone described thanksgiving as giving gratitude for someone’s works or gifts, while praise celebrates someone’s nature. The pictographs in the ancient Hebrew word for “heavenly court” (חָצֵר) describes God's court as a place that fences off trouble and distress. The Lord will ambush our enemies when we sing to Him and praise Him (2 Chronicles 20:22).
Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day. – Psalm 71:8 (NKJV)
What do you love about God’s character? His faithfulness? His love? His grace? His sovereignty? When we keep those attributes of God flowing from our hearts and mouths we will flourish, and praising God draws us nearer to His heart!