Rooted Up

"Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up." Matthew 15:13

You know, things don't have to stay the same. You don't have to suffer with depression, anxiety, blinding anger, worry, envy, or loneliness. We all have different experiences in life, whether traumatic events or small comments from others, that have stayed in our hearts and minds, and have only grown in time.

I say things don't have to stay the same because whatever is inside of us, whatever is inside of our hearts that was not put there by God will be rooted up. Meaning nothing will be left behind, leaving no chance for it to grow again.

There are plenty of things inside of our hearts that God has not put in there: shame, envy, lust, hatred, slander, evil thoughts. Circumstances might have put them in there, people's words spoken over us might have just been the seeds put inside us and so it now has blossomed into bitterness, unforgiveness, and self-hatred.

We know that out of the mouth the heart speaks. Eventually things come to light, and whatever is deeply within our hearts, whether it's pain or joy, will be exposed by our words (what we say and how we respond to certain things). Where are those places? Why are they in your heart? What are the roots for that pain?

We may try to fill ourselves up with good things, sermons, worship music, good people, fun times, but if we don't allow God to root up those "plants" inside of our hearts the bad will stay there, and continue to grow.

"Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone." Matthew 15:17-20

It's important to realize what God has not planted. The word says He is love, redeemer, Father, savior, almighty, King, kind, all these great things. Why would such a great being give us rubbish and foul thinking? It's impossible! He does not put those inside of us -- and yet He is NOT AFRAID to take it all away.

I realized I still suffer from things since I was a teenager. I am an adult and yet I still suffer with the same anxieties from when I was 15. Clearly, there are still things planted inside of me, deeply rooted, that I need to give to God to root them up and out. It's a process, it's a constant realization.

Pay attention to what exposes those parts inside of you and instead of trying to cover them up or compensate by doing something good, face them, take them to the altar and see what God will do.

When I begin to swirl down the spiral of anxiety and anger, my husband simply says "Enjoy life, Katherine." It's simple but not that easy for me to remember until I'm in a tough spot.

I may worry and trouble about so many things, but only one thing is needed. It's so simple, only one thing. The only thing I truly need is to be with God, in His presence, in His love and peace. That brings the clarity, when I have my focus on what He says, His plans, and who He is, it brings that clarity. Then the troubles and worries seem so small, exposed, and surrendered to be rooted up by God.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
—  Luke 6:45

And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'" 
—  Luke 10:41-42