14 - Connecting w/ God
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 14 | GROWING DOWN INTO GOD’S LOVE
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 14 | GROWING DOWN INTO GOD’S LOVE
GROWING DOWN INTO GOD’S LOVE
Ephesians 3:17-18
“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. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (NLT)
From time to time, we go to the local nursery and by a new plant or two for our yard. We bring it home in a pot and then take the steps to plant it where we want it. We have to prepare the hole, put in mulch, plant the plant and then water. All the things needed to give the plant a good start for growth and good health.
As I read these verses, it doesn’t take a theologian to see the picture that Paul is painting for the Christians he was writing to.
He is praying that as the Holy Spirit comes into each of their lives – through the being born again experience – that “Christ will make his home in your hearts…” And how does that happen? “… as you trust him.”
Our garden plant – upon our transfer from pot to ground – has very shallow roots, only as large as the pot it was in. But to be healthy for the long term, it needs to expand those roots beyond the shape and size of the pot and go into the ground where it is planted. For Christians, Paul is praying for something similar.
“Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”
One might ask, “How does that happen?” Is there something WE can do to encourage OUR “roots” to “grow down into God’s love”? YES!
It begins with wanting to be strong in the Lord. To have strong faith. To be able to withstand the “frosty” times of the year (to continue the plant analogy), the “hot” seasons, the droughts, the wet years, and the ups and downs that happen to plants – and to us. In short, we want to be strong enough to thrive through all the seasons of life.
What season of life are you in? Summer, spring, winter or fall? How are you doing? Are your roots deep in Christ? Are you experiencing His deep, wide, long and high LOVE for you? If not, do you WANT to?
To grow your faith, to deepen your roots, to experience becoming stronger in the Lord, YOU can take steps. PRAY every day; TALK to your Heavenly Father, then “BE STILL” and listen to Him. Start TODAY.
Further, open your Bible and read… His primary way of talking to you.
If you’re not used to reading the Bible, start with one of the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Read about the life of Jesus. And pray a short prayer before reading and ask the Lord to teach you something – even something small – through what you read. Try it – you’ll grow!
Prayer: Lord, I do want to grow in you. I do want to be strong, to experience your love, and to understand you better. I want to survive and thrive through all of the seasons of life – and I acknowledge that I need YOU in order to do that. Thanks for being there. Amen.
Ephesians 3:17-18
“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. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (NLT)
From time to time, we go to the local nursery and by a new plant or two for our yard. We bring it home in a pot and then take the steps to plant it where we want it. We have to prepare the hole, put in mulch, plant the plant and then water. All the things needed to give the plant a good start for growth and good health.
As I read these verses, it doesn’t take a theologian to see the picture that Paul is painting for the Christians he was writing to.
He is praying that as the Holy Spirit comes into each of their lives – through the being born again experience – that “Christ will make his home in your hearts…” And how does that happen? “… as you trust him.”
Our garden plant – upon our transfer from pot to ground – has very shallow roots, only as large as the pot it was in. But to be healthy for the long term, it needs to expand those roots beyond the shape and size of the pot and go into the ground where it is planted. For Christians, Paul is praying for something similar.
“Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”
One might ask, “How does that happen?” Is there something WE can do to encourage OUR “roots” to “grow down into God’s love”? YES!
It begins with wanting to be strong in the Lord. To have strong faith. To be able to withstand the “frosty” times of the year (to continue the plant analogy), the “hot” seasons, the droughts, the wet years, and the ups and downs that happen to plants – and to us. In short, we want to be strong enough to thrive through all the seasons of life.
What season of life are you in? Summer, spring, winter or fall? How are you doing? Are your roots deep in Christ? Are you experiencing His deep, wide, long and high LOVE for you? If not, do you WANT to?
To grow your faith, to deepen your roots, to experience becoming stronger in the Lord, YOU can take steps. PRAY every day; TALK to your Heavenly Father, then “BE STILL” and listen to Him. Start TODAY.
Further, open your Bible and read… His primary way of talking to you.
If you’re not used to reading the Bible, start with one of the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Read about the life of Jesus. And pray a short prayer before reading and ask the Lord to teach you something – even something small – through what you read. Try it – you’ll grow!
Prayer: Lord, I do want to grow in you. I do want to be strong, to experience your love, and to understand you better. I want to survive and thrive through all of the seasons of life – and I acknowledge that I need YOU in order to do that. Thanks for being there. Amen.
Posted in Connecting w/ God