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
Recent
Categories
Archive
2025
January
40 DAYS OF NEW - 0340 DAYS OF NEW - 0440 DAYS OF NEW - 0540 DAYS OF NEW - 0640 DAYS OF NEW - 0740 DAYS OF NEW - 0840 DAYS OF NEW - 0940 DAYS OF NEW - 1040 DAYS OF NEW - 1140 DAYS OF NEW - 1240 DAYS OF NEW - 1340 DAYS OF NEW - 1440 DAYS OF NEW - 1540 DAYS OF NEW - 1640 DAYS OF NEW - 1740 DAYS OF NEW - 1840 DAYS OF NEW - 1940 DAYS OF NEW - 2040 DAYS OF NEW - 2140 DAYS OF NEW - 2240 DAYS OF NEW - 2340 DAYS OF NEW - 2440 DAYS OF NEW - 25
February
40 DAYS OF NEW - 2640 DAYS OF NEW - 2740 DAYS OF NEW - 2840 DAYS OF NEW - 2940 DAYS OF NEW - 3040 DAYS OF NEW - 3140 DAYS OF NEW - 3240 DAYS OF NEW - 3340 DAYS OF NEW - 3440 DAYS OF NEW - 3540 DAYS OF NEW - 3640 DAYS OF NEW - 3740 DAYS OF NEW - 3840 DAYS OF NEW - 3940 DAYS OF NEW - 4040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 05
March
40 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 26
April
40 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 3940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 4040 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0140 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0240 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0340 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0440 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0540 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0640 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0740 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 08
May
40 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 0940 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1040 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1140 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1240 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1340 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1440 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1540 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1640 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1740 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1840 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 1940 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 2040 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 2140 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 22