Is it time to do a spiritual inventory on your faith? Are you growing, or are your roots withering?
It’s easy to coast along in your faith day after day, year after year, and have no growth at all.
You need deep unshakable roots that can withstand whatever life throws at you. Everything around you may be falling apart, but your standing strong.
Your soul needs to be a focus like every other area of your self-care. It takes intentionality and nurturing.
I was reading a little classic book by Andrew Murray on faith growing, and the word “withering” stopped me. It’s what happens when we neglect our faith. Withering is losing joy, losing hope, and growing weak.
Are you withering?
In reference to our faith, Andrew Murray said:
“Let the very thought of a withered branch fill me with holy fear and watchfulness.”
Are you watching and looking for any areas in your life that have become hardened or desensitized? Has your heart grown cold towards the things that used to break your heart?
Let’s go deeper.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if your roots are withering.
- Am I filled more with anxiety than peace?
- When something goes wrong, am I overwhelmed by it?
- Do I find myself worrying more than praying?
- Am I trying to figure out my future, dreams, and goals, but not praying about any of it?
- Does fear or insecurity have its hold on me with my plans?
I’ve asked myself these questions at times, especially when I find myself struggling. It usually means I need to get my soul quiet so I can hear God’s truth and let my faith be strengthened and let my heart be ministered to.
How about you? Would you call yourself a faith-filled woman but your living with constant anxiety and nothing seems clear anymore? You just may need some faith nourishment to help you grow.
Let’s get your faith roots growing!
All growth needs tending to.
If you neglect to water a houseplant, it eventually will start to wither and eventually die if it’s not given water. Your soul needs watering also so you can grow and have stronger roots that sustain you. What does that look like though?
Two things are necessary to keep growing and thriving in your faith.
Prayer and God’s Word.
Don’t overthink it and get overwhelmed. Just talk to God. All relationships start with a conversation. Tell Him you want to grow in your faith. You don’t want to wither. Then get in a habit of reading God’s Word. Even a few minutes a day will have the power to grow those weak areas of your life. God has something to say to you personally and these are the two ways to hear from Him.
Do these two things as often as you can and your faith will grow and flourish. Little by little, and day by day.
No more soul neglect. Look intently into areas of your life that feel empty, and take it to God. Don’t be satisfied with a faith where you never see the power of Him working for you and through you.
It’s time to grow, and keep growing until those roots are so deeply planted in Him that nothing is going to uproot you. You might get shaky, but your faith is too strongly tethered to Him to let anyone or anything make you wither.
So ask yourself today, “Am I growing in my faith?” If the answer is no, or not much, you now know what to do. Have a conversation with God first, and ask Him to grow your faith, and be encouraged because he will answer that heartfelt prayer.
Day by day, prayer by prayer your weak roots of faith will become strong until you are a mighty oak of faith!
Until next time, praying for your growth,
~pat
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, for the display of His splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)
