Root-bound

Dear Fellow Believers,

The other day, the Lord gave me one word to think about:  Root-bound. As I pondered this, He began to show me how Believers who are learning and growing in their spirit may become root-bound. Growth is a necessary progression, but what happens when we outgrow our environment?

A root-bound plant will develop yellow or brown leaves. It will begin to wilt, even thought it is getting watered and fed. And it will stop growing. A root-bound plant will grow to the walls of it's environment (the container), then start to grow around and around, forming its own tight, solid wall. That prevents it from receiving the water and nutrition it needs to survive and grow. In time, if untreated, it will eventually die.

So then, how does this relate to our life as Believers in God's Kingdom? If you have been sincerely studying God's Word, seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness, serving in a ministry or church and embracing the teachings you have learned, be aware of becoming root-bound. Of course, not everyone will deal with this. Do you feel "watered" but still "thirsty"..."fed" but "malnourished"? Are you growing spiritually or feeling "stunted" and at a standstill? The problem may be that your current environment has become too small for what the Lord God has already planted in you. It may be time to enlarge your territory!

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV

​So then, what do we do? Let's go back to that root-bound plant. 1) You can pull it out of it's too small container, cut some of those roots loose and transplant it into a larger pot with fresh soil. Or 2) You can take the plant out of that container, carefully cut it into two and put one half back into that container and one into a new container. Where there was one withering plant, in time, there will be two thriving plants.

Are you feeling as if you have stopped growing spiritually? Are you feeling critical or dissatisfied? Maybe you feel like you are treading water but not advancing. Things may feel out of sync, depressed or like giving up, as if all your efforts are fruitless and in vain.

This is an altar call of one. Be honest. You may be root-bound and the Holy Spirit is drawing you to make a dramatic change. You may need to change your environment and step out into a larger one that allows fresh growth. Or you may need to continue in your current ministry environment, but also move into something totally new and fresh. One that will allow you to grow again in your current environment and also flourish in the new one! Only you, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, can make that decision. Don't "die on the vine" from a solid wall of roots that will suffocate the life out of you. You can see new growth in your spiritual walk and ministry again. Get out of that too small container and into a new season of fruitfulness in Jesus' name!

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 2 Peter 1:8-10 

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Colossians 1:9-10

I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. John 15:1-4

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. Psalm 92:12-14

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9

Be ready,

Deborah Luchie
​www.deborahluchie.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.

This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you.

---