"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you deeply, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16
Being rooted and established has been an all-encompassing theme of my life for some time. It began way back in January 2015, and so began the InstaEncouragements movement. You can read more about that here. Follow the movement on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Etsy.
When we are rooted and established, the winds of the storm can blow hard but we will not be tossed like tumbleweed. The deep roots into the Living Water give us stability. In times of drought our roots need to go even deeper into God's Word. They need to go deeper to pull out the spiritual nutrients so that fruit continues to grow.
So I've committed myself to letting the Word dwell in me deeply over the course of the next 12 weeks. I'm excited because I know that the journey is going to have benefits like joy to the heart and light to the eyes! Follow the blog as I document the journey!
Who DIED for me and forgave my sinful soul? Who loves me even through the messy, unloveable, untrusting days? No one like Him! And yet, I struggle to trust. Why? I cannot say. It doesn't even make sense to me.
I do know though, the more rooted and established His Word becomes in my life, the more natural it is for me to trust Him. Without His Word, trusting would be near impossible. So when I saw this opportunity to be one of the first to dive into the Dwell 12-week Bible study journal, I ordered it! Week 1 Was Exactly What I Needed!“THROUGH CHRIST’S WORDS DWELLING IN MY HEART, I AM ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED”
I needed this lesson bad! I am so thankful to have His Word, and to have the opportunity to be rooted and established in it! I needed to be reminded that His precepts are right, that they give joy to my heart. I needed to remember that His commands are radiant, and that they give light to my eyes.
4 Simple Ways to Establish Deeper Spiritual Roots
So how can we be intentional about establishing deeper spiritual roots?
Prioritize it
Making a plan. Being intentional. Writing it into your schedule. These are all things we have to do if we plan on becoming rooted and established in the Word. That's one thing I love about this 12-week guided Bible study journal. It lays out a simple, easy-to-follow plan for you.
Memorize it
Memorizing Scripture has lost it's place, even in our Christian culture, I fear. Many think they can't and so they don't even try. The first time recall memorizing Scripture was in the third grade. At the age of 9-years along with my classmates, I memorized Hebrews 11. It's the Hall of Faith chapter of the New Testament. I can still recite much of it even to this day. Memorizing isn't easy, but it isn't impossible either. We're busy, I get that. The way I make memorizing easier for myself is 3x5 cards. I have one in my car right now, and on it is a handwritten passage that I'm working on memorizing. In my state they've recently banned cellphone interaction while driving. That's a good thing, and it gives me more time to memorize! When I'm waiting at a red light or in traffic, which happens a lot in the city, I have an opportunity to work on memorization! I've also used sticky notes on the bathroom mirror and refrigerator. Whatever it takes to get the passage or verse in front of your eyes. Memorizing Scripture is one of the best ways to be rooted and established.
Pray it
There are certain passages of Scripture that I pray. It's a beautiful thing to pray God's Word back to Him. Make it personal. Write out the passage as a prayer and put personal meaning to it.
"Lord, let Your Word dwell in me deeply. Teach me O Lord that I may teach others about Your wisdom. Fill my heart and soul with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Make me to be thankful for all Your goodness. [Colossians 3:16] Make me to love Your precepts because I know they are right and they will give joy to my heart. Make me to understand and see that Your commandments will give light to my eyes. [Psalm 19:8] Help me to take Your Living Water to those in my circle of influence who thirst for it. Make me to see their need and to love their soul as You do. For I know that whoever believes in You, as You say in You Word, will have rivers of Living Water flowing from their soul.” [John 7:37-38]
Praying Scripture is powerful. Making it personal to you gives life to your words and meaning to your prayers. A conversation with God is an excellent way to be rooted and established.
Write it
Do you have Scripture hanging on the walls of your home? I don't know a better way of instilling Scripture into the little minds and lives that live there with you. I started in the nursery, way before they could even walk, let alone read. Think and be strategic about placement. I even placed one "strategically" over the toilet in the boy's bathroom! Beautifully framed artwork created and centered around the Word of God is so easy to find these days. Checkout our friends over at Redeeming Goods and Christ-Centered Mama. There are others as well. These are just a couple of our favorites. And they both offer free, downloadable, printable Scripture art. It doesn't have to be expensive. It could even be free! Scripture on the walls of your home will help you and your family be rooted and established.
So today, let's be intentional about deepening our spiritual root system. Not just ours, but that of our family as well. Prioritize it, memorize it, pray it and write it.
Dwelling in God's word is exciting and enriching. Let's dive into the Father's love letter and see how it impacts our lives and the lives of those around us." --Sarah Liberty Hardee
By the way, no one told me I was going to need colored pencils. You’re going to want them too when you see this beautiful journal.
What's your action plan for staying rooted and established in God's Word?
8 Comments
2/4/2019 03:42:17 pm
I quite often take for grated the freedom of having God's Word, and so many copies around our home. It's not always been this way throughout history. We are truly blessed!
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You have given such great encouragement for others to take steps to deepen their roots in Christ. I also really enjoy journaling my scriptures. I like to take it all in and write a summary paragraph, kind of like my own psalm. I'll have to check into this 12 week study, it sounds great!!
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2/4/2019 03:38:50 pm
Journaling and writing passages of Scripture out have helped me commit them to memory. You'll love the 12-week Bible Study!
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2/4/2019 02:51:00 pm
My husband memorized 101 verses in a year several years ago and it was neat to see him be able to retain all that info in His noggin! I on the other hand, am not wired that way and that is ok. We are all different. Love your great ideas!
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2/4/2019 03:36:14 pm
Good for your hubs! It's not an easy task. But then I think about the day may come when we will no longer have the written Word and only have what is tucked away in our brains.
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2/5/2019 11:20:09 am
It is a great question to make us think! Thanks for stoping by Susan.
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