Deeply Rooted

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. - Colossians 2:7 NLT

When I read this verse, I always picture a mighty tree with a deep, strong root system. That’s how trees withstand the storms of life. That’s how we can withstand those storms, too. We grow a strong, deeply rooted faith.

So how do we grow a deeply rooted faith?

Well, just before this, Paul exhorted his readers to continue following Jesus Christ as their Lord. (Colossians 2:6) This is more than saying I believe that Jesus is the way to everlasting life. It’s accepting that Jesus is now the one in charge. And if Jesus is the one in charge, I should do what He wants me to.

And how do we know what He wants, what His will for me is? If you’ve been following for any length of time, you know what I think the answer is: to know God’s will, I need to know His Word. It’s in His Word that we find all the instruction we need on how to live for Him. When we make time to read and study to understand Scripture, it gets stored up in our hearts. We grow in spiritual maturity and obey the Lord more automatically. We become imitators of Jesus. (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:1-21).

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." - Psalm 40:8 ESV

Another way we can grow a deeply rooted faith is through prayer. When we develop an attitude of continual prayer, of talking with God throughout our days, we are more tuned into the voice of His Holy Spirit. His guidance is always available to me; I need to learn to listen to what He has to say.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! - Psalm 143:10 ESV

Also, developing relationships with our Christian brothers and sisters helps us to have strong root systems. A friend recently shared something she had learned about aspen trees, which are usually found growing close to each other. This cluster of trees is a family, and their root systems are tangled together. They are all connected to the same tree from which they first started. Because they are connected to each other, these trees can stand through fierce winds that try to topple them over. Together, they can stand the storm. So can we when we are connected to each other through our faith in Jesus.

Think About: How deeply is your faith rooted today?

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 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. - Psalm 1:1-3 ESV