Rooted And Grounded In God.

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving". Col. 2:6:7.

A man planted two trees around his house. The first tree was in a soft spot of soil. It was watered daily and given fertilizer. It grew quickly, shooting up towards the sun. Within a year, it was tall and beautiful. The owner bragged about how fast this tree grew, and it seemed like a massive success. 

The second tree was planted on the edge of the property, near a rocky cliffside. The soil was hard, shallow, and filled with stubborn, jagged rocks. The owner didn't tend to this tree as much. Throughout the first year, it barely grew at all. It looked stunted, brown, and lifeless above ground. It seemed, to the naked eye, to be wasting away. Then, a massive, unexpected storm came through the valley.

The first tree, which had grown tall and fast, had only shallow roots because the soft, easy soil didn't force them to go deeper.

 When the wind hit, the tree had no anchor. It snapped at the base, its quick growth resulting in sudden destruction. The second tree, however, had spent that entire first year fighting for survival. Because the soil was hard, it had to send its roots deep, down into the crevices of the rocks to find water and stability. When the storm came, it rocked and swayed, but it didn't break. Its roots were firmly, deeply anchored. 

By the next spring, the "wasted" tree began to thrive, growing tall and strong, while the first tree was gone. As a child of God, there must be a commitment to grow spiritually. 

A commitment to growth means investing time in prayer, the Word, and obedience. The invisible things that build character, rather than just seeking visible results.

Have you ever looked at a mature believer and wished you could be like him or her?  Wouldn’t it be great to know the Bible and be able to pray and lead people to Christ and exhibit joy and peace and goodness and knowledge and self-control and perseverance and godliness and kindness and love?  Most of us want instant growth, forgetting that what is behind a godly life is a person who has persevered through pain and problems.  Spiritual development only comes through practicing spiritual disciplines like time in the Word, prayer, fellowship, fasting, giving, witnessing and serving.  Or to say it another way, we must gather, grow, give and go…and when we do it will show. Like the two trees, make up your mind not to pursue instant growth without root, rather be well built, rooted and grounded. selah!

FURTHER READING:

"...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..." Eph. 3:17-19.

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers". Psa. 1:3.

DECLARATION: 

Dear Abba Father, I thank You for life and the privilege of being in Your will. Lord, I ask that You plant me deeply in Christ, that my roots may go down into Him like a tree planted by rivers of water. According to the riches of Your glory, strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being. May Christ dwell in my heart through faith, and may I be so firmly rooted and grounded in Your love that I am not shaken by the storms of life in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:

Josh. 19:1-51.

Josh. 20:1-9.

Josh. 21:1-45.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

“Take Root Downward And Bear Fruits Upward.”