While on a walk I saw the tree in the photo below. It reminded me of how important it is for us followers of Jesus to get our roots down deep into God’s Word.
If we don’t, the adverse winds of life will knock us right down, no matter how strong we may appear to be–like this tree which had only shallow roots that couldn’t support it in a storm. As Jesus said in Mark 4:17 “But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”
In contrast to this is the tree of Psalm 1, which is planted by the streams of water and gets its roots right down into the water [of the Word], so that it “yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” This remains true no matter how difficult or dry it gets, now matter how powerful the blasting, withering winds may be. In fact, this description concludes by declaring about believers who delight in God’s Word and meditate on it day and night: “whatever they do prospers.”
I can attest to the reality of this. The two disciplines that have been the most powerful proponents of growth in my life are meditation (memorizing and praying the Word) and lifting my soul to God (honestly laying out my thoughts, feelings and desires, then evaluating them in the light of the Word and surrendering to it). I am so glad God led me to invest greatly in these, disciplining myself to spend time in each every day, as He used them to get my spiritual roots down deep into the life-giving waters.
Now as the dry blasts and whirlwinds of Barbara’s depression sweep over us daily, God holds me steady with those deep roots and refreshes me with the waters of Truth.
If it were not for this, would I would be overwhelmed by impatience, discouragement, anger, frustration and selfishness.
Instead, the Spirit brings out His fruit as I need it, so I rarely feel any impatience or anger; I can bear that fruit of the Spirit and Barbara can eat it, enjoy it, profit from it–all to God’s glory, not mine.
So I encourage us all to get our roots down into that life-giving water every day with meditation and lifting our souls to God, so no matter what storms may come, we will stand strong in the Lord’s strength.
