Rooted

Rooted is the word of the day.  I have seen it numerous times today.  When I started this blog (and I think I wrote about this already), God gave me a vision of a tree.  This tree is a big tree.  It’s tall, with many branches that go all different directions.  This tree is so big that it takes a lot of water to sustain it and it takes a lot of STRONG roots to hold it firmly on the bank.  I basically envisioned something like a Bald Cypress or an Overcup Oak.  These are very different trees but they are also slow growing….which I will get to in a minute. In this vision, this tree was planted near a very luscious river bank flowing with life.  There were animals of all kinds.  I could hear the water flowing by, so peaceful.  Under this tree, to me would have been a place of rest, a place of quiet, a place that I could hear God.

God was basically telling me to get my ROOTS planted firmly but plant them somewhere that is going to be flowing with life, peaceful and a place that I could hear HIM.  That’s what I did.  Now during that time, somethings have come along and disrupted the water, disrupted the Earth on which I was planted.  A storm, one might say.  Well, during that storm, my tree has taken some beating.  It has lost some branches and some of the roots are exposed.  It has not fallen down, not even close, but it has been bruised.  It will recover, all it needs to do is grow its roots in a different place.  Get down deep in the Earth, the river bank (God).  Get down deep in the water (Jesus, the everlasting water…God’s word).  During this slow down, that is what I have committed to do.  Get down deep in God’s word again.  He has cleared the way as far as distractions.  I have been doing more devotionals than in the past, and this is what came out of one of them; a reminder from Him to “Get Rooted”.

Let’s talk slow growing trees….these trees (Oak trees for example) may take a while to grow but they are STRONG.  They are a tree the is well respected.  This can be compared to some believers.  We are slow growing because we are soaking up all of God’s word.  We take our time so we can be sure to get it right, not that we don’t make mistakes, we do but we want our ROOTS growing in the right place, in the right direction, God’s direction.  So if you are like I am, trust that just because you are slow growing doesn’t mean God forgot you or that the vision he gave you isn’t going to come true….it just takes a while. We will get there, in God’s time.  It won’t always be slow.  Just like trees, there will be some years of lots of growth and some of not so much but just remember it will not happen overnight and that’s ok (it might happen overnight and if it does, it’s God’s will and God’s hand is in it).

Be encouraged today to stay the course.  Your tree may have been beaten up in a storm and it might have even been uprooted but it is not dead.  Grow your roots where God plants you.  Grow those roots deep and strong.  Get back into God’s word.  Talk to Him daily, seek His face, seek His will over your life.  It maybe slow moving but that means you are right where God wants you to be.

Scriptures for today:

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  (NIV)

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Psalms 3:3-4 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.  I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.

2 Chronicles 15:7. But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.