Are You Ready for What's Next?নমুনা

Rooted

If you’re like me, you enjoy the aesthetics that plants bring to your home, except you’re probably better at maintaining them than I am. This spring, I noticed that the leaves on one of my plants were beginning to wither away, turning into a rusty brown color instead of a vibrant green. I’m no plant expert, but my brain knows that green means good and brown means bad.

I’ve always heard about “repotting” plants because naturally their roots become too big and need more room to grow. I decided to go to the closest Home Depot store to buy repotting mixture and a bigger pot. As I began to take the plant out of the old pot and put it into the new pot, I noticed something I didn’t expect. I realized that some of the roots of the plant were rotting. Not knowing what to do next, I decided to do some research on how to save my plant. To my knowledge, I learned that “root rot” is common with most houseplants. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve put the plant in new soil, expecting to get healthier results for the plant's life. Unless the roots are pruned, placed in new soil, and put in a new pot, the plant will continue to deteriorate.

When we’re in a season of transition, God is uprooting and pruning our deepest habits and trauma that no longer serve us. These are the roots that God is pruning. The truth about pruning is that it allows us to get rid of the dead areas that are no longer growing. Not only do these areas prevent us from growing, but they also drain healthy areas of vital nutrients.

If you could pick an area of your life that should be pruned because it’s a dead area, what would it be? When we begin to evaluate our lives through these lenses, it’s important to be aware that the adversary attempts to get us comfortable living in toxic environments where we’re no longer able to grow. The adversary always tempts us with what we’re familiar with. When we give our life to Christ, those old roots have got to go! It’s time to prune them, by getting rid of the dead parts of our lives. A lot of the circumstances surrounding this season of transition start with dead roots that are rooted in childhood trauma, rejection, or abandonment. I’m here to tell you that God wants you to be healed and grow into all that He’s called you to be.

Healthy plants contribute to life by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. You’re a plant in God's garden. He’s pruning away your bad roots, planting you in healthy soil, and allowing you to bring life to those around you. When God gets rid of your bad roots, that equates to Him healing and delivering you from your old ways of life and trauma. When God plants you in new soil, He removes you from unhealthy relationships, environments, and conditions of life. When you’re delivered from those dead areas of life, God gives you the freedom to share your testimony.

If God allowed us to keep the dead roots, while putting us in a healthy environment, our toxic habits would eventually rise to the surface. When those dead roots are removed, and God puts us in a healthier environment, we begin to develop life-altering behaviors and perspectives by living out God’s truth for our life.

In John 15:1 scripture reads:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

In order to have branches that produce good fruit, the roots have to be healthy. God is getting rid of the roots of our life that no longer produce good fruit.

Action plan

What are the areas of your life that aren’t producing good fruit? Where has God pruned you? Identify three areas in your life that you’re struggling with. In those areas, dig deep to identify the root cause of that area. Once you’ve identified those areas, it’s time to submit them to God. Take a step forward by rebuking any lie that is attached to those decaying areas. Who does God say you are? What are the truths that God is declaring over you? Trust that God will turn your frustration into freedom. It can be uncomfortable to develop healthy boundaries for your life, as it sometimes means applying these boundaries to people you love. Stand firm in what God has called you to do and who He has called you to be. You are planted in His truths and in His kingdom.

Prayer for today

Father God, I thank you for being patient with me. Lord, I surrender my anxious thoughts to you. I ask you to mold me in your hands. May you soften my heart so that it reflects the desires of your heart. I ask for your mercy and your grace as I learn how to say no to the things you don’t approve of. Lord, give me the strength and the clarity to build and keep healthy boundaries. Lord, I ask that you will order my steps so that I will be your righteous child. May my life produce fruit that reflects your will. Reveal to me what it is that you’re believing in me to do so that I will honor you with my life. It’s with all of my heart that I pray, Amen.

Closing remarks

Thank you for following this devotional plan throughout the last seven days while preparing for what is next. I pray that this devotional blesses you on your journey. Wherever you’re going, keep in mind that, when you’re at rock bottom, God is the rock at the bottom. Humble yourself before God and know that it's okay to start over. I ask that God will provide you the strength to let go and to be planted in His promises for your life. Child of God, I want to remind you that you’re loved, saved, healed, and chosen by the blood of Jesus Christ.

This 7-Day Devotional is available as a hardcopy on Amazon.com The hardcopy version of this devotional includes space to journal and reflect throughout your journey. Please be sure to follow us on Instagram @YourNeighbor_Nique and follow our podcast “Your Neighbors Podcast” which can be found on Apple Podcast and Spotify.