Seated and Secured: A Rooted Identity, a 5-Day Plan by Brittany TurnerShembull

God wants you to flourish in abundance.

But, in order to thrive, we must be anchored in Him.

Have you ever considered what it would look like to be truly rooted in Christ? I mean, so unshakable in your faith and resolute in your understanding of God's character that your whole life begins to radiate under the light of His love.

We are invited, no called, to be rooted, seated, and settled in Him so that our identity becomes anchored in His character alone. It's the steadfastness of who He is that enables us to both enjoy and withstand whatever comes our way.

An abundant and flourishing life is available to each of us.

It is more than a promise of ease or an escape from difficult times, but rather a promise that those who live a life connected to Jesus will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. Our ability to prosper is linked to who He is and, through Him, how we view the world around us.

Trials and trouble are promised to us so long as we live on this earth, yet abundance still sits before us.

Our ability to flourish is related to where we are rooted and our source way more than our circumstances.

At a basic level, most of us can understand how important roots are to a tree. Botany teaches us that without strong roots, a tree cannot thrive. Without roots, there is no system in place to grab nutrients to nourish the tree, no foundation, and not enough depth to survive a storm. Without debate, well-developed roots are vital, but newer studies are teaching us that they matter even more than we originally thought.

New scientific research reveals that trees can even use their roots to communicate with each other. Shared roots form a vast network of interwoven and intertwined trees, providing each tree with the strength of the other trees to keep them anchored physically. It is through that same network that, when needed, trees can lend nutrients to struggling or damaged trees within their reach.

Oh, what a powerful image! The Bible repeatedly refers to us as trees, and nature gives us a glimpse into why.

When we are rooted in Christ, we are not just able to receive from His infinite source; we can hear clearly, stand firm, come alive, find support, and, in turn, lend support to others. Our strong roots form a network–a body–His body.

We are members of His body, and like trees, we need to be watered well. The water of His word empowers our roots to grow deep, connecting and anchoring us to Him and other believers around us. Roots that are malnourished will rise and live above ground instead of below, searching long and wide for substance. Sound familiar?

Dear friends, God is calling us to increase our depth and understanding. It's time for us to develop fruit, not just foliage that looks good on the outside. It's time to settle yourself again in who He is and secure yourself to Him so that you might be edified by your network in Christ.

It's time we get back down to our roots! It's time we realign ourselves with the truth of who we are in Christ and take our divine position in His presence.

Consider this 5-day Bible study your Holy Spirit-led wake-up call! It's time to go down deep into His presence, the truth of His word, His character, and His plans for us. We can only do that through the watering of our souls by His word. (Eph 5:26-27)

Join me for the next four days as we study Ephesians, chapter 2, to discover what God has to say about who you are and how your life can flourish in Him.

Are you ready to grow, beloved? Let's go.

Affirmation: I am ready to develop strong roots in the truth of God's word. Who I am is anchored in His unshakeable character.

Questions: What would it look like for you to live your life anchored in Christ? How would your world change if you knew with certainty the character and heart of God for yourself?