I love that my husband is now writing blog posts. His reflections always challenge me, and they provide wonderful ideas for follow up posts!
Last week, Don shared his recent lawn weeding experience with us. He related how his time pulling all those weeds in the fire pit led to a reflection on Psalm 1. Also, he shared his thoughts on the Psalm’s application to his life. The post ended with an exhortation for each of us to consider whether we are like weeds with no depth or like the grass that is well-watered and deeply rooted.
That’s a great question. And I’m sure most of us answered with the desire to be well-watered and deeply rooted. But we may be left hanging with no idea how to get there.
4 Ways to Develop Deep Roots
1. EMBRACE YOUR ROLE
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
Matthew 28:18-20
Each of our roles is God-designed and God-assigned. Husband, wife, child, grandparent, it doesn’t matter.
No matter what role or roles we have been given for this season of our life, God’s Word tells us that we are to be on mission. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. If we are parents or grandparents, our priority is to raise children and grandchildren who love God and have a desire to serve Him and please Him. If we have other roles, the job is still ours. We are to be investing in others around us helping them to love God and have a desire to serve Him and please Him.
Embracing our role serves to focus us, fill us with purpose, and help our root system to flourish.
2. REGULARLY ENGAGE IN THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
The best way to grow deep roots is to spend time at the feet of Jesus, and the spiritual disciplines help us do this.
Daily time with God is not an option. It must be a priority – a very high priority. Not because we want to check it off our task list to feel good about ourselves. But because it is only by spending time with Him that heart transformation can take place.
It should be our desire to grow to look more and more like Christ so that we can love others more and more as He does.
Another reason this is so very important is that in order to pour into the lives of our family and friends, we must have something inside us to pour from.
3. ENGAGE IN DISCIPLESHIP PRACTICES
God has tasked each of us to be disciple makers. Isn’t it wonderful that we have a loving and compassionate God who doesn’t hand out such an assignment and leave us to wonder how to carry it out?
On the contrary, He is faithful. He provides. All we need to do is ask and seek. We can go to Him and ask for help in carrying out our role. Also, we can search His Word, where we will find everything we need to know about fulfilling our task.
A Bible search will uncover several methods for carrying out our discipleship role.
We can:
- Gather and Influence – planning intentional meals and gatherings where we can share Jesus.
- Give a Blessing – imparting good to others through our words and actions.
- Be a Model – demonstrating the Fruit of the Spirit and the character of God.
- Tell Stories – pointing to who God is and telling of His wondrous works.
- Institute and Observe Traditions – helping our family members develop a sense of connection and belonging.
- Teach – offering instruction and guidance to help in the shaping of those around us.
- Pray – making an impact for eternity in the lives of others.
- Ask Questions – connecting our family and others while also opening the way for spiritual dialogue.
- Care for Our Soul’s Health – developing well-watered, deep roots of our own so that we can help those we care for develop their own deep roots.
To carry out our responsibilities of discipleship, it is essential that we be about the business of engaging in these and other discipleship practices as found in the Bible.
4. LIVE WITH INTENTION
If we are to develop deep roots, we need to do more than simply have good intentions. We must act on them – thoughtfully and deliberately, even to the point of being inconvenienced.
What might this look like?
- Make a formal commitment by putting your intentions down on paper.
- Add some accountability and increase the odds of follow-through by sharing your commitment with someone.
- Schedule your time with the Lord and your interactions with others. These interactions are opportunities for practicing discipleship. This idea may sound a little odd, but I have found that unless my idea is written on my calendar or I have set an alarm to interrupt my day, my good intentions seem to stay just that – good intentions!
Embrace your role, regularly engage in the spiritual disciplines, engage in discipleship practices, and live with intention. Four practical ways to develop deep roots. Is there one that needs some tending?
