Imitate those "who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:12
"For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name" Hebrews 6:10a
What do all those have in common? The roots! What? Okay, let me explain:
Yesterday my oldest son and I planted four trees in the backyard. He had a day off because of the weather. His summer job is to plant trees for the county so when it comes to trees lately he has things to say.
While digging a hole near our back fence, he mentioned to me how powerful trees are, how the roots can break anything. It takes time but eventually a healthy tree's roots will break through rock, foundations, anything that gets in its way.
That made me think about God and us. He wants us to grow up and deep. Growing deep, in the roots, is more important than what is seen on the outside. If we get deeper and deeper roots our lives will be breaking apart lies and strongholds just by us existing. A tree with deep deep roots can withstand almost any storm that comes by, anything that tries to shake it up.
And if a tree has deep deep roots it can't help but grow up strong and healthy. And when it is full-grown it gives shelter, beauty, homes to animals, birds, even people (especially kids in the form of tree houses); it purifies the air by just being there; depending on the tree it will give us fruit and shade and even if it drops its leaves once a year, those dead leaves will add nutrients to the earth.
Our roots will grow through faith and patience. There is no shortcut. If we want to have a vibrant lasting faith we have to use faith and patience. When we seek God we ask and then believe and then hold on no matter what goes on. We put Him first. We let all things drop off our life that hinder our relationship with God and our relationships with others. We live for HIm. We live to love Him and others.
There are no get-rich, get-faithful steps to take. We can have guidelines, good practices to start (like reading our Bibles and praying and serving) but they will just be religious and worthless if they are not accompanied by an inward change, an inward down growth.
Think about it. Oh God is so good. Be a tree! Let those roots grow deep! Laugh at troubles. They are what God is using to make you strong. He will overcome. He will overcome and you will see victory!