What Are You Rooted In?

What Are You Rooted In?

 

The world is crumbling all around you as the wind begins to shake you, and you are forced to hold tight; hold tight to the ground you so hastily rooted yourself in.  You look towards the sky and begin to wonder, “Is the foundation strong enough? Can I make it through this storm?” Unfortunately, many times we find ourselves to be amidst a storm in our lives before we have even thought to build a solid foundation. Just like it is important for a tree to have strong, deep roots in good soil, it is essential that we choose to root our lives fully in things that will keep us firm in the middle of a crisis.

The truth: What you choose to root yourself in (the soil) is the first step in determining your strength amidst a storm.

¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11

The Rock: His works are perfect, and the way he works is fair and just; A God you can depend upon, no exceptions, a straight-arrow God. His messed-up, mixed-up children, his non-children, throw mud at him but none of it sticks. Deuteronomy 32:4 MSG

Continuously throughout the Bible, Christ is referred to as “The Rock,” and “Cornerstone.” These words are simply illustrations of the strength and stability that God possesses, and signify what He can provide us with when we build our foundation in Him. When we make the choice to surrender our lives to Christ, He is the Rock we can lean on in the midst of even the strongest storm.

The truth: The things you choose to surround yourself with have the power to nourish or deteriorate your foundation.

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 2 Peter 3:17

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

As these verses describe, the people you choose to allow into your life can either strengthen you, or lead you astray. It is essential that we are careful with what and who we allow into our lives, as it will spill into many other areas; thus building us up, or tearing us down.

The truth: A solid foundation paired with a healthy/encouraging environment will precede stability in the challenges/storms ahead.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

Just as the wise man in the story had to be intentional about building his house on a firm foundation, we must also be intentional about where and what we root our lives in. Are you rooted in things that strengthen and encourage you, or are you ingrained in destructive things that tear you down?

Until next time,

-Tamara