Deep Roots
It’s snowing. Way down here in the South, the woods behind my house are whitening in the cold stillness. Mind you, earlier today there was rain and a ferocious wind. The storm came before the calm. As I watched the trees, bending alarmingly and swaying with agitation, I marveled that they held. Their roots, strong and deep, kept them from toppling, and the supple fiber of their branches kept them from breaking. So when the wind ceased and snow began to fall, there they stood, heads high and arms outstretched, to receive the silent beauty bestowed upon them by their maker.
Oh Lord, grant that I should be such a tree. Roots buried in the forever faithfulness of God and branches supple in the nourishment of His fellowship. Roots are not seen. They are hidden, and sometimes there is not always aboveground evidence of all that is happening in secret. Eventually, though, roots planted in good soil spring forth with evergreen life.
Prayer takes my roots deep, as I seek the preeminent source of all that is good for me. Adoration of Him and worthy praise unto Him keep me open to hear His voice and receive His counsel. Repentance refocuses me, and I adjust my course toward the light of His countenance. Gratitude enlarges my capacity for wonder at His majesty. And all these experiences make it easy for me to ask of Him and to believe He will answer in power and with kindness.
Having been washed and made clean, I am now pliable in His hands, useful to His purpose, and moving with ease among the variety of circumstances and relationships He orchestrates. I bend and move according to wind of His Spirit, which hovered over the darkness and chaos before all that is beautiful was created. (Genesis 1:1)
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream, and does not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NASB) “So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3b NASB) “And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2 NASB)
As I read these verses, I am mindful that from the beginning God’s plan was for His people to be a blessing, and blessing is a powerful thing. It is more than kind thoughts and warm wishes. It is from the very heart of the Father and in the authority of Jesus that blessing is extended. Blessing is a heavenly calling with a divine purpose. It is what happens when heaven meets earth.
Oh, that we would be those oaks of righteousness which provide shelter, solace, nourishment and blessing. Would that we soak up the divine through a healthy root system and never grow weary no matter what kind of weather comes.
I pray, dear one, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19 NASB) May this blessing be yours in Jesus’ name, amen.
Until next week, beloved, go deep and discover the Way Maker, who makes you a blessing.