Devotionals for the Heart: Be Deeply Rooted in Your Relationship with God

We Need to be Deeply Rooted in Our Relationship with God
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

—Ephesians 3:16-17 NLT

When my husband and I got married, we moved into a quaint two-bedroom apartment. My husband had already settled in there prior to our wedding so he had been able to settle in. We didn’t move in alone. We both brought suitcases with our belongings and also a pot. Not just any pot, but a pot holding a plant that would become a blessing to us and many other people.

This potted plant grew very well. It was sturdy, it was green, and it came with a caregiver who happened to be my husband. That’s right. He has the best green thumb in the family. My husband nurtured this plant. He watered it. He pruned it. He made sure it had enough sunlight and was perfectly positioned in our living room where everyone could clearly see its beauty. It had large roots, and the roots run deep. So much that eventually it needed a larger pot for it to stay grounded, firm and continue to grow straight up. The plant had to have the right potting soil, the right pot and the right place to thrive.

Our lives are very much like that plant. Some things keep us alive and help us to thrive including the environment we are exposed to. Besides being fed and clothed to protect against the natural elements, the roots of our hearts must also have the right nutrients. From a spiritual aspect, reading the word, along with prayer are the basics needed to feed our spirit man. Habits need to be formed so that there is growth. If these are in place and if the habits are consistent, we will see growth. So, let me ask you: Do you have a regular habit of reading, studying God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and spending quality time with Him in prayer? Is it marked in your calendar, set in your phone or noted in whichever way you set and check your schedule?

There is a saying that whatever isn’t scheduled doesn’t happen. We have to develop and put habits in place to use our time wisely. Scheduling this time is important in order to establish a strong foundation in our lives. Once this is set it becomes a non-negotiable for interruptions. We don’t have to be legalistic but we need to be committed to growth.

When Jesus Christ was tempted in the wilderness he fought the temptations of the devil with the Word of God. He was able to do this because He blocked time to spend with His Father (God) so they could commune and Jesus could receive downloads from God on how His day should progress.

If the plant in our apartment was ignored, if we went away and it had not been checked on, the soil would become dry and you could see the cracks in the leaves. So, to prevent that from happening, we regularly watered our plant and checked the soil and repositioned it when necessary so that it could continue to thrive. We also had to change the size of the pot because the roots were going down so deep that it needed more space to grow. When we are growing in our faith and confidence in our relationship with Jesus, there will be changes. Others will see it and comment. Even if they don’t comment (because we’re not seeking man’s approval) God will see it. He will bring people into our lives who need to glean from us so they too can become rooted in their faith.

So, if you’re feeling weak, weary and wondering about the quality of your relationship, ask the Lord to show you. You probably already know you need to check your environment. What is crowding out the roots of prayer, Bible reading, interacting with other believers in God and sharing your faith?

These are some of the areas that, if not watered, can cause our roots to become unstable. We want to be like the tree planted by the water where our roots go down deep. Check your roots.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, we love You and are so thankful that we are safe in Your love. Help us to remember this as we grow, regardless of what comes our way. Teach us how to be deeply rooted in Your Word and keep us in the center of Your will. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Rooted” by Kerrie Roberts. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker and compiler of her 2020 best-seller anthology Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body and Spirit, as well as “Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement” to encourage readers and share life lessons during her cancer journey. 

Patricia writes, speaks, and teaches on the power of God’s Word to heal and empower you to become all that you are purposed for. She has traveled internationally and shared her gifts with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through word and song. Patricia has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers including Anne Graham Lotz and Rev. E.V. Hill.

Her greatest joy is being married to her husband, Wayne, for 34 years. Together they serve the community through their local congregation as well as providing premarital and marriage coaching. They have two adult children, Raquel and Benjamin. As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, Patricia coaches’ others to develop resilience and live life to their fullest.

Patricia has released two gospel music recordings: “Draw Me Nearer” and “Lord, I Trust You”. In March 2022, she launched her podcast “Becoming Resilient” which can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts and also seen on YouTube.

When not reading or studying, Patricia loves to eat Thai food and spend time with “Lucy” – her daughter’s Yorkie-poo who has taken up room in her heart.

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.russell.98877/
Email Patricia: patrussellsings@gmail.com