Go To Your Roots

“I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13, not “I can do all things through my own individual strength and power.”

Paul is talking about a man and I think he misses the point. He’s talking about a man rather than what the man represents (demonstrates) – what I would call, “God in our soul.” (Soul=sub-conscious mind where divine ideas are present and out-picture into our physical life according to our thinking/belief)

What Jesus demonstrates is, as I said, God in our soul. When God extended Itself (created us), It placed in our soul Its likeness and image – not that we then take It unto ourselves as our individual power. I would say it’s more like the link to that power.  We open the door to that link and connect to what’s on the power that’s “on other side” and together, in partnership, not on our own but in partnership, we have power and can do all things.

How we unlock that door – open that link - I’ll get to in a few minutes.

The road to success, spiritual and otherwise, hasn’t been a straight, easy drive. There is a curve called "failure," a loop called "confusion," speed bumps called "well-intentioned friends," red lights called "enemies," caution lights called “family."  You will have flats called "jobs."

But, if you have a spare called "determination," an engine called "perseverance," insurance called "faith," and a navigator called God, you will make it to a place called SUCCESS.

The day before Mary Kay Ash (Mary Kay Cosmetics) was to launch her cosmetic business, her husband, who was to be the CFO of the business, died suddenly.  Everyone told her to fold her tent
and get a job.  She listened politely to her lawyer, accountant, and friends and then, went right ahead with the business plan she and her husband had envisioned.

Mary Kay cosmetics has given thousands of women around the world the leg up they needed to provide financial and psychological security for themselves and their families.

In 1976, Steve Chandler worked as a sportswriter, a very different field from his current career as a successful motivational speaker.  About 37 years ago, he had an interview with the famous bodybuilder named Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger had recently retired from his sport, and Chandler asked him about his future plans.  Arnold replied, "I'm going to be the number one
box office star in all of Hollywood.  Chandler wanted to laugh, but he restrained himself.  Here was a guy with the body of Goliath, an accent as thick as paste, and almost no acting experience.  Box-office stardom
seemed an unlikely goal.  But Schwarzenegger had thought it through very carefully.  He said, "It's the same process used in bodybuilding.  What you do is create a vision of who you want to be, and then live into that picture, as if it were already true.”

 This is precisely what Jesus meant in Mark 11:24 when he said, when you pray – believe that you have ALREADY received!

Sometimes success happens even in spite of ourselves.  Take the case of Elliot Daniel who died recently at the age of 89.  At his passing he was a
very rich man.  He composed the upbeat theme song for "I Love Lucy."

Absolutely convinced that this wacky sitcom would sink, he initially asked that his name not appear in the credits.

I read this week that from the moment Shania Twain’s parents’ car slammed into a logging truck in 1967, Shania Twain never had the chance to fully mourn their deaths.  Just 21, Twain took on a great
deal of responsibility for her entire family.  Her singing paid the mortgage on the house she and her three younger siblings lived in.

Shania Twain has been one of country music's hottest stars.  But back then, she sang for her family's survival.  She said, "Taking care of my family
was a blessing in disguise. It was a total distraction from my grief. If you focus instead on people who need you, you may do yourself the biggest favor." Shania did eventually face her grief, as we all need to do, but in that moment of personal confusion and pain she experienced the healing power of extending love to others.

Many things happen in life that can stop us on our road forward towards success. Sometimes it’s misfortunate events, and sometimes it's self-sabotage that stops the forward movement.

God can help.  God can show the way.  God can re-motivate you.  God can help you get employment.  God can influence others to help.

Trying to travel the road towards success of whatever kind you seek, without God's help is a form of self-sabotage.

Ask for God's help today, believing you have received it, so that you can enjoy a more successful life, whatever that means to you.

There is a lot of truth in a tree. A tree is lush at the top. It has leaves. A healthy tree goes far out and gives you shade. But any gardener will tell you that if you water or fertilize the tree, you have to circle, on the ground, the outermost branch line. This is where the ends of the roots are. You cannot see the roots, but they are there.

Here’s the point: a tree is identical on top to what the root system is underneath.

It is the same with us. There is a root system and a foundation in your life.

What are you rooted in, and what’s the depth and breadth of those roots?

It can be a very real, powerful foundation, if you have a solid root system that is grounded in an awareness of the presence of God;

You will bloom on the top of your life.
You will stand up to the winds of your life;
You will stand up to the winters of your life;
You will stand up to anything that comes into your life;

You will sway merrily with the Sun and the gentle breeze, because you have a strong foundation in God.

          We need deep roots in God. We need to unlock that link I spoke about earlier… to the awareness of the Power and Presence of God.

How do we do this?

1.                              We have to consent to the magnificent power of God coming though us.

2.                              We must also get positive friends who believe in us and believe in what we can, and God can, achieve together… not in what we cannot do.

3.                              Pray believing that you have already received.

4.                              And in the words of Molly Friedenfeld, “Focus on faith and grow your roots strong so no one can make you believe in something that is not good for your soul.”