A Heart Abiding in God's Word -- Part 1

Jeremiah 17:7-8, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

Psalm 1:2-3, "But his [the righteous man's] delight is in the law of the Lord,and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

If God is going to be first in our hearts and the "Ultimate Priority" of our lives, we must develop a root system anchored deeply in Him. We must seek to live our lives near to God -- indeed, hidden in Him!

Join me as we consider two facts about roots.

1. Roots are unseen.

We are going to compare the root system of a tree to your private life -- the life that you enjoy with God out of the public eye. The underground root system of a tree causes the tree to thrive when it is planted in rich, moisture-laden soil. The tree grows strong, with green healthy leaves, and abundant fruit.

In the same way, if you and I want to thrive as Christians and impact others, we must spend a great porportion of our time hidden in quiet, in reflection, in prayer, in study. Our strength (or lack of it) in public is explained by what goes on in private between us and God.

2. Roots are for taking in.

Do you know what happens when you and I are able to slip away to be with God in study and prayer? We receive. We take in. We are nurtured and fed.

Away from public view, we can go to the Lord with our weakness, with our weariness, and with our darkness, and we can be renewed.

We find great benefit when we purposefully make time to read and study His Word. We must willfully choose Him over the "good" things of life.

We can alter our schedules and, when we do, the blessing are abundant!