Recently I have been thinking about how disconnected I have begun to feel with God and wondering what it is that is making me feel this way. Instantly I think of the one picture that pops into my head every time I think of this and the one image that sums up Christianity for me:
I want to be this tree. This tree represents having roots firmly planted in the good soil of the Word, constant connection with Jesus and His Spirit with room to grow and expand. This tree has a solid foundation. I envision the roots of the tree being the heart of the person. Because the roots (heart) of the person are firmly planted in the soil of His Word, a healthy tree will grow and produce fruit. However, most of the time I feel like this kind of tree:
The kind of tree who has shallow roots but is trying to produce fruit without being connected. I also think as Christians we get caught up in the "fruit" of Christianity and seek after the result before our roots have had time to connect (the first step). How would we be able to produce things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control without these roots? But this is what I find myself doing most all the time: I seek after the fruits and try to make myself "better" in those areas, but it is not long lasting. Soon after I "change" I resort to being frustrated, unloving, selfish and easily angered. Then I wonder what happened. Then I realize that my roots are not plugged in.
I am desiring REAL change. I am also learning that one of my habits is rooted in the belief of changing my behaviors and since I believe that I should change my behavior first, my heart gets over looked.
I believe we will all find the long lasting change we desire when we set our roots firmly in the Lord and His Word. I make time for everything else in my daily routine, but somehow He gets pushed to the side.
I am hopeful.
Here is a link to an Utmost for His Highest that has made my mind spin and my heart reconsider what it is valuing:
Lia
PS- I also find that I not only get caught up in producing fruit before heart change, but I get caught up in the trap of knowledge. That knowledge will somehow make me a better Christian and that I should know more and more and more. However, Jesus desires my heart. I often hide behind my knowledge when I feel distant from Him and treat is as a reserve until my heart catches up and can take on the responsibility.
ReplyDeletei like this. thank you for sharing it. i'm glad to know what your tree feels like to you, cause it looks completely different to me as i experience it. :)
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