https://youtu.be/ejUT7bjBhXw

1/23/26  I want to share with you today about “The Rooting System”.

How deep are your roots? A dear friend recently shared with me a song that I have loved and declared as the song of my life for many years. I was first introduced to this song in my 20’s (I’m in my 60s now). If I am remembering correctly, I heard it first while listening to the late Pastor George Bogul, on the radio. I didn’t know at that time I was being grounded, hard wired for life and rooted. The song was sang by the late Douglas Miller title, “My Soul Has Been Anchored”

I had to include the lyrics as I am deeply touched by them still today.

Lyrics

… Though the storms keep on raging in my life
And sometimes it’s hard to tell the night from day
Still that hope that lies within is reassured
As I keep my eyes upon the distant shore
I know He’ll lead me safely to
That blessed place He has prepared

… But if the storms don’t cease
And if the winds keep on blowing in my life
My soul has been anchored in the Lord
Ooh, ooh

… I realize that sometimes in this life
We’re gonna be tossed by the waves
And the currents that seem so fierce
One thing I like
But in the word of God I’ve got an anchor, hallelujah
And it keeps me steadfast and unmovable
Despite the tide

… But if, if the storms just don’t cease
And just in case the wind keeps on blowing
Blowing in my life
My soul
My soul’s been anchored
In the Lord
In the Lord
Lord

… My soul
My soul been anchored
In the Lord
My soul
My soul
My, my-my-my my
My, my-my-my my, my, my, my
My soul
My soul been anchored
My soul been anchored
My soul been anchored
My soul been anchored

… Though the billiards may roll
The breakers may dash
But I shall not sway because
He hold me fast
So dark the day
Clouds in the sky
I know it’s alright
Because Jesus is nigh

… And my soul
My soul
My soul
My, my-my my
My, my-my my, my, my, my, my, my
My, my-my my, my, my, my

… My soul
My soul
My soul
My soul
My, my-my
My, my-my-my my my
My, my-my my
My, my-my-my-my-my my
My, my, my-my-my-my my, my
My, listen

… You crush me down but Jesus picks me up
He sticks right by me when the going gets tough
And my soul
My soul
My soul

… My soul has been anchored in the…

… My soul
My soul
My soul
My soul
My soul
My, my-my-my
My, my-my-my
My, my-my-my, my-my-my my

… Though the billiards may roll
And the breakers may dash
I shall not sway ’cause he hold me
He hold me
Through sickness and pain
Sunshine and the rain

… My, my, my, my, my, my, my
My, my-my-my (my, my-my-my)
My, my-my-my (my, my-my-my)
My soul (my soul)
My soul has been
Has been, help me say it
Anchored
Anchored
In, in the Lord

I know all kinds of things come to mind when we think about roots. Both good and bad things may come to our mind. But as Holy Spirit said talk about the rooting system I began to pray for clarity. The 20 year old me only thought about the good. But Godly wisdom shows that we must deal with all rooting systems at operation in our life. Our mindset can be a rooting system, this is why we must put on the mind of Christ through the written Word of God. Thoughts about the rooting system led me to reflect on planting, seeds sown, types of soil. The Bible talks a lot about planting; seed time and harvest; laborers needed to gather the harvest; remaining connected to the Vine and bringing forth fruit.

WHAT HAS TAKEN ROOT IN YOU AND HOW DEEP ARE YOUR ROOTS?

First we must be rooted and grounded in our faith in Bible as the written Word of God. The foundation. All rooting systems have a foundation. Now if the foundation is bad, unstable, a lie, mixed…..then the fruit or product or outcome or consequences of the planting will not be good, pure, ripe, healthy or produce what is needed for further growth. The Bible talks about the good useful seed growing up with the bad destructive seed and how there is a time for planting and for plucking up.

Seeds come in all sizes and shapes. Some seeds are easier to identify than others. For example it’s easy to identify a corn seed or a cucumber seed for a trained gardener. But other seeds are more difficult to identify in seed form. If you are not sure what type of seed it is that you have planted, or allowed to be planted in your garden; you have to wait until it grows. Of course you would’nt want to discard all the seeds because of the unknown seed.

This is where you have to let patience have her perfect work. When you just don’t know; trust the process. You still have to maintain the soil, and water your garden as you Watch what springs up. (Your heart is the soil and the water of life that Jesus talked about in John chapter 4—is the living water—please go read it).

You may be thinking, I know my rooting system is good. So did I. Holy Spirit can show you things about your rooting system that need work. Things such your delayed obedience is still disobedience. Or things like, yes you know the area you need strengthening in but you haven’t done anything about it. What are you waiting for? Things like you need to repent concerning the different forms of greed, gluttony and consumption. You may have overcome excessive eating yet you overconsume your time enjoying social media while you under consume my Word.

We are all righteous and doing great in our own eyes. We deserve an ‘A’ but when measured or graded by the Teacher (Holy Spirit) we find ourselves in need of improvement and growth. In need of more prayer, studying, and fortifying ourselves. Needing to consume more of the Word and Worship of God so that It speaks louder than all the many noises and sounds we hear.

There is process to growth; good growth and corrupt growth. All growth is not good. Think about it. If you are constantly consuming bitterness, lies, hate then that is what is growing inside of you. If you constantly think on how you refuse to forgive, how people have hurt you, then unforgiveness and its fruit is growing inside of you. Growth yields consequences. Again, both good and bad, both healthy and unhealthy.

I am trying to say a lot here but it is layered in a little. This is where Holy Spirit our Helper comes in. Holy Spirit unfolds the truths to us as He is the Spirit of Truth. Now, the truth that I need to grow in today may not be the same truth you need to grow in. However, we all have rooting systems that must be dealt with. How do you know your rooting system? Look at your fruit. Look at the way you think about things. Look at what you are personally producing!

Are you producing peaceful relationships or are you in constant conflict with others?

Do you tend to see the good, decent side of things or does your mind always go to the negative, bad, worse side of things?

Do you have love even for people you may disagree with or do you hate people that disagree with or you have no use for, people who don’t benefit you?

Do you give of yourself or is your hand always out waiting to receive?

Do you get angry when confronted about your fruit or do you pause, reflect and accept the need to change?

We have been graced to bring forth good fruit. But what do we do when our fruit is not good, rotten, and nasty? How do we respond when confronted about our fruit? Do we feel that we must defend & justify? Do we feel attacked and accused? Or are we open to consider the nature of the fruit we are producing?

We convince ourselves of many things but, Can you prove it?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ask Holy Spirit to reveal what type of fruit we are growing and producing. When it is revealed to us…then we must begin to deal with it accordingly. Do we need to strengthen what remains or do we need to weed out some things.

What is it in my life that I need to pluck up, rip to shreds, pull out, discard, clean up, change…according to Jeremiah 1:10. Holy Spirit may reveal it to you through the Word. The thing about the Word of God is that it reveals the problem areas and gives the solution to transform those areas into ground that will yield good fruit for your life. Just ask!

My goal here is not a quick word that is going to make you feel good in the moment. I do love when that happens and it is definitely what we need. But we also need much more. I want to go deeper. I pray that you desire the planting of the Lord. Where you are rooted in Christ Jesus. Where your roots run deep in obedience to God. I pray that you are so deeply rooted that no strong storm can pluck you up or move you. I pray that your rooting system is anchored in the Lord and that you are equipped to do the works of the Lord you were created to do. When you are drifting off course, I pray that your rooting system will yank you back in alignment with the Father’s plan for your life. In the name of Jesus.

I declare your rooting system will help you remain steadfast and unmovable that you abound in the work of the Lord in the name of Jesus.

“In the Bible, “abound” means to exist in great quantity, overflow, or be superabundant, often referring to God’s limitless grace, love, and blessings, and the corresponding growth believers are called to have in faith, love, and good works. It signifies not just having something, but having it in excess, as seen in 2 Peter 1:8 where virtues should “abound,” making believers fruitful, and in Romans 5:20, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,” showing God’s grace exceeding sin.” (Google/AI)

I pray that Holy Spirit leads you and guides you through His Rooting System here on earth. ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4)

In the mighty name of Jesus, I admonish you to be rooted in love and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To share your fruit of righteousness, joy and peace by the power and enabling of the Holy Ghost.

While writing this I kept thinking about John chapter 15. So I had to include it hear because I know Holy Spirit was highlighting this.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

In closing I want to share what I found upon google/AI, Bible Rooting System. I was happy to see that it coincides with what Holy Spirit was giving me. Note: that nothing is wasted with God because anything created Holy Spirit can hover over it, breathe on it and use it to advance the Kingdom of God and declare that it is good. Romans 8:28.

The Bible’s “rooting system” refers to a believer’s deep, foundational connection to Christ and His Word, drawing nourishment from Scripture (like a tree by water), fostering spiritual growth, and enabling steadfastness during life’s trials, primarily achieved through prayer, study, obedience, and fellowship with other believers to produce spiritual fruit. Key scriptures like Jeremiah 17:7-8 and Colossians 2:6-7 describe this spiritual grounding as essential for thriving faith. 

Core Principles of the Biblical Rooting System (google.com)

• Rooted in Christ: The core concept, often using tree metaphors (Psalm 1, Jeremiah 17), describes a life deeply connected to Jesus, drawing life and strength from Him.
• Nourishment from God’s Word: Daily engagement with Scripture (reading, studying, memorizing, praying) is the spiritual “water” that feeds the roots, preventing drought and fostering growth.
• Built on the Rock: Like a tree with deep roots, believers are built on the foundation of Christ, allowing them to stand firm when life’s storms (persecution, hardship) arrive.
• Producing Fruit: A strong root system enables a life to bear good spiritual fruit (love, forgiveness, service) consistently, even in difficult seasons.
• Connection & Fellowship: Being part of the local church and connecting with other Christians helps individuals deepen their roots and grow. 

How to Develop Your Root System

• Daily Scripture Engagement: Go beyond reading to meditate on, study, and apply God’s Word.
• Prayer & Intimacy: Develop an intimate, daily relationship with God, talking with Him and listening for His voice.
• Obedience: Actively living out the Word (doing it, not just hearing it) strengthens your foundation.
• Community: Connect with other believers in the church for support and mutual growth.
• Deal with “Weeds”: Address sin, worldly distractions, and self-centeredness that choke spiritual growth, as described in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13). 

Key Biblical References

• Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord… He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream…”.
• Colossians 2:6-7: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith…”.
• Psalm 1:2-3: Describes the righteous as a tree by streams of water, prosperous and fruitful.
• Ephesians 3:17: Paul prays for believers to be rooted and grounded in God’s love (Google/AI)

Food for thought to meditate on

*Jeremiah 1:10

*Ecclesiastes 3:1-12

*John chapter 15

God’s beautiful people, hear the word of the Lord and receive it with gladness. Be encouraged! Until next time.