“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.” Jeremiah 17:8 NKJV

Deep Roots

Tomato season was over, so I pulled up all my tomato plants. I was impressed by the depth and spread of the roots of the plant pictured above. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised, because good roots are a result of good watering habits and lots of sunlight for the plant. Since I was working from home from March to August, this garden was watered well.

Growing roots takes time. Becoming a person like a tree with deep roots who is not anxious in a year of drought and not afraid of taking some heat also takes time. I liken water to the Holy Spirit, who fills us up and refreshes our souls. Sunlight strengthens the plant just as the Word of God does for us. One day of water and sunlight does not produce magnificent roots such as these, and there is no quick fix for the believer who wants to be deeply rooted either. It is the habitual practice of the water of the Holy Spirit and the light of the Word of God that grows deep roots.

True confessions: I read the Bible almost every day, and many of those days there is no instant gratification. Once in awhile there is. However, the renewing of my mind helps me understand God a little deeper. I am growing those deep roots, a little each day. And when the heat comes, I have a store of testimony about God‘s provision. In a year of hardship, I will not cease from yielding fruit. It will be the fruit of my efforts from a year I’ve been faithfully in the Word.

One final note: Missing one day of watering doesn’t hurt aplant, so don’t beat yourself up if your routine changes one day and you look back on yesterday and realized you missed it. But habitual time in the Word will have great rewards.

Lord, I want to be deeply rooted in Your Word. Reveal more of Yourself to me as I regularly water my soul with your Spirit and grow my mind with Your Word.