Roots, Shoots and FruitsSample

DEEP FOUNDATIONS

January is all about setting a fruitful, life-giving, faith-filled foundation for the year ahead!

Healthy things grow, and we want you to grow this year! This means setting up some key foundations in your life that will help you to grow, deepen your roots and sow seeds that produce new shoots, so you can see good fruit.

When we look at plants, our focus is on what we can see, on what is visible above ground. We love to smell the flowers, eat the fruit the tree produces, and rest in the shade of the expanse of the tree. But, all that you can see is due to what’s going on BELOW the surface, for the plant to grow and produce fruit, the root system must be strong.

In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul explains that we are rooted in Christ. Rooted in Christ means having strong deep foundations in Him, He is our source of life and growth and keeps us strong in faith during the storm.

Deep foundations are for maturity in faith, truth, and thankfulness. We want you to grow in Christ this year, to find yourself healthy, a growing plant that has fruit for others. Setting up your year well with strong roots of prayer, sowing the seed of the Word into good soil, and being a steward that produces good fruit is all about maturity in Christ. So, let’s have a look at the benefits of having deep foundations.

Deep foundations are to bear fruit.

When we set up our lives well with strong roots and good soil, we will find ourselves flourishing and not just for a short time but into our old age. These foundations we are building this year will be life-long principles we will keep. I love that Psalms 92 says “they still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” We want our Christian lives to mature so that we are bearing fruit in old age, staying fresh and green.

Deep foundations bear fruit for others.

This year is about having a strong and solid devotional life so we can be a blessing to others around us, to disciple others. The fruit of our lives is not about us. The tree doesn’t feed off the fruit it produces, the fruit is about spreading the seed of the good that God has grown in you.

This year we would love to help you to set up your year well prioritising prayer, the Word and good stewardship so that you can teach others to do the same. We want you to have strong roots of prayer, sowing the seed of the Word into good soil, and being a steward that produces good fruit.

"And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." - Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

Prayer Point: Lord, help me to set up strong foundations this year that will enable me to bear fruit for your kingdom. I pray that as we journey through this plan, you will give me wisdom to set up a time of prayer, reading the Word and good stewardship that will bring maturity to my Christianity and fruit for those around me.