Growing Deeper Roots
Why are deep roots so important in a biblical and personal application? Why should christians grow deep roots? Let's Find out!
Psalm 1:1-3 - Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
A while ago, our church Awakening House of Prayer - Birimingham started an online series called Deeper Roots. But where did the phrase “deeper roots” originate? Psalm 1 is one of the keys and it is contained in the words DELIGHT and MEDITATE. As we delight in the Lord and meditate upon His word day and night, our roots grow deeper and deeper. If our roots are deep in the Lord, we can rest assured that when the storms of life come, we will not be moved. For a tree with deep roots can bear up under the strong winds and storm. The tree may bend and look like it is going to break, but it doesn’t.
There may have been times that it felt like you were going to break and not make it through a certain storm in your life, that time when you lost hope, when you felt like giving up, when doubts and fears tried to consume you, BUT GOD! But God in His great mercy, love and compassion, runs to you and picks you up and turns you around and places your feet on solid ground, Hallelujah! Sounds like a song we sing!
Some interesting facts about trees with deep roots –
Did you know trees can grow their roots through rock? It’s true! Rather than try to grow around a rock, a tree will go right through, over time.
They act as windbreaks in the winter and shade your house in the summer to drive down energy costs. And they look beautiful while doing it. (https://www.rootwell.com/blogs/tree-roots-strongest-and-deepest )
A tree that develops a deep, strong root structure can withstand heavy winds without toppling to the ground. Its roots also help prevent soil erosion, especially along riparian areas that are prone to flooding. The roots of a tree continue to grow throughout the tree's lifespan, always expanding outward and downward in search of what the tree requires to survive. A tree depends on its roots to reach deep into the soil to search for the water and nutrients that it requires to survive (https://www.hunker.com/13429020/trees-with-strong-deep-roots)
I believe that the Lord spoke through David these scriptures knowing all about trees and deeper roots to give us a powerful message.
1). Deep, strong root structure that grows through the tree’s lifespan – as we grow in the Lord, day by day, week by week, month by month and yes, year by year, through our entire “life span” on this earth, our “roots” will grow deeper and deeper so that we can stand, not be moved through any storm of life. We never quit growing. I love this, because I love to learn, I love to study and I love to grow in the Lord, in His ways and in His Word. This is a definite key if you want to have deep roots. A LOVE FOR THE WORD OF GOD! I have read the Word of God for 35 years and am still learning and growing each time I read it. And to know that each time I read the Bible, my roots in the Lord are growing deeper and deeper.
2). A tree depends on its roots to reach deep to find water and nutrients to survive – this confirms what I see when I read Psalm 1. I see this tree with roots so deep they have found the river of God where all life flows! How awesome is that! You will have everything you need as you grow, and as Psalm 1 tells us, when we are planted along the river bank, you will bear fruit in every season of our lives – whether the spring, vibrant exciting seasons, or even the winter seasons when we are going through the wilderness times in our lives – for this is when the beautiful fruit of Holy Spirit shines so bright and brings glory to the Father.
3). I love the fact that a tree’s roots can even grow through a rock OVER TIME! I see this as us building our lives, our house upon the rock just like Matthew 7:24-27 says:
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.
I want you to see the parallel here with this passage and Psalm 1. Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them with meditating upon the Word of God.
I want to challenge you to study the Word of God, do the Word of God, meditate upon the Word of God and your roots will grow deep all the way through the Rock, which is Jesus, and you will weather any storm that may come.
4). And finally, as Psalm 1:3 says, your leaves will not wither and all that you do will prosper. I believe that “your leaves” represent growth, health, and life. Because leaves not withering means that they are getting the needed water and nutrients. As we spend time in God’s presence, and in His word, you will get all that you need to be healthy, successful and prosperous. You can’t help prospering and being successful when your whole life, spirit, soul and body are one with Jesus, His Word and His presence.
