Roots, Rock, Higher Ground

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him and let your lies be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." Col 2:6-7 NLT

According to A.I. overview, being rooted in Christ means establishing your life's foundation, identity, and security in Jesus through intentional daily connection.

It further goes on to say that this deep, often unseen spiritual Anchoring in his word, prayer, and love provides stability, enabling believers to withstand life's storms, bear fruit, and grow in grace.

Februa

ry is a month whereby we often go back to our history and commemorate our lineage. We look at the struggles, challenges, and all that our race has not only endured but overcome. We highlight heroes and visionaries, those who place their lives on the line for equal rights and justice so that all men could be free.

Our lineage comes from Christ, who took this world by storm. In John 15:5 he says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing." I often wonder, as many do, how David was counted as a man after God's own heart. It's easy for us to clock what misgivings and failures a person has, but one thing I recognized about David is that no matter how he felt, whether it was great joy or great sorrow, he never let go of God. He spoke to him honestly, openly, and earnestly. He knew where his root was, and he would often run to the rock.

In Psalm 61:1-3, in the New International Version, he says, "Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer from the ends of the earth, I call to you. I call as my heart grows faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."

As we celebrate our history. May we know God for ourselves in the present and what it means to be rooted and grounded in him. May our roots in him grow deeper as he calls us, to soar upon the heights and walk upon high places. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep in the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit. - Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

"Change your opinions. Keep to your principles. Change your leaves, keep intact your roots. - Victor Hugo.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being a firm foundation on which we can build our hope and faith in your love. You have promised in Your Word to be with us in every season we face every affliction that is brought against us and every assault of the enemy. Help us to keep grounded in you and allow our roots to go deep, as you will never leave us. Help us to keep faithful even when we fall. Help us to always return to you in Jesus name. Amen. "Your roots matter more than your branches. Because what grounds you is more important than what's visible." - Unknown. The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my Savior. My God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2 NLT

"The roots dig deep. Not to hold the tree down, but to lift it higher. - Tree philosophy

"Keep your roots grounded, but let your spirit take flight." - Unknown.

"And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love." - Ephesians 3:17 The Living Bible. "I went to the root of things and found nothing but him alone" - Mera

Be blessed to be a blessing.