I had a great conversation with a couple of pastors today on the importance of developing deep spiritual roots in our lives. We used the image of a well-rooted plant.
Here were some thoughts:
1. What really matters is what is beneath the surface.
2. I focus too much on the fruit.
3. I need to focus on growing deeper roots.
4. If I grow deeper roots in Christ, the fruit will come.
5. When God cuts you back, grow deeper roots.
This morning I was reading from A Closer Walk by Catherine Marshall. In her book she discussed her experience of fasting from criticalness. Here are some insights that struck me personally.
“Do no Judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:-12
1. A critical spirit focuses us on ourselves and makes us unhappy. We lose perspective and humor.
2. A critical spirit blocks the positive creative thoughts God longs to give us.
3. A critical spirit can prevent god relationships between individuals and often produces retaliatory criticalness,
4. Criticalness blocks the work of the Spirit of God: love, good will, mercy.
5. Whenever we see something genuinely wrong in another person’s behavior, rather that criticize him or her directly, or-far-worse-gripe about him behind his back, we should ask the Spirit of God to do the correction needed.
