"Root Systems"

I have started reading an excellent book during my quiet time, by Elizabeth George. She is a great Christian woman and a wonderful author! I have been challenged and blessed so much by it already. I would really recommend it to girls about 13 and up. Some of you have probably already read it! The title is: A Young Woman After God's Own Heart.

I wanted to share a tiny bit from chapter two:

In this chapter she really encourages you to give everything you are to Christ. Making a conscious effort to serve Him in everything--your thoughts, actions, words, the way you spend your time. We want to grow in Christ. But for anything to grow, it must have a strong root system. Our heart's desire is..

"To flourish, not fail,

To thrive, not die,

To blossom, not wither."

We must develop a strong "root system" anchored in Christ and His Word. A thriving root system is grown underground. In a similar way for us, our "root system" is grown when we are alone with the Lord, in a separate place. Special time just with Him. This is the time to give everything to Him, re-commit yourself to Him. This is the time we "receive" and "take in." And in Miss Elizabeth George's time alone with Christ, she does what she calls "the great exchange." It is a wonderful way of committing yourself to Him, letting go, and laying your burdens before Christ. I am trying to make it a habit in my daily walk, and it has been a huge blessing!!

She "exchanges.."

"my weariness for His strength,

my weakness for His power,

my darkness for His light,

my problems for His solutions,

my burdens for His freedom,

my frustration for His peace,

my turmoil for His calm,

my hopes for His promises,

my afflictions for His balm of comfort,

my questions for His answers,

my confusion for His knowledge,

my doubt for His assurance,

my nothingness for His awesomeness,

the temporal for the eternal,

the impossible for the impossible!!

I like to read through it slowly each morning in prayer...and I find each one of those things very personal to myself and I'm sure you will too. Christ longs for us to let go, let Him guide and hold us. I am finding it much more difficult than I thought, but I know He is with me and helping me grow. As I grow in faith, and my "root system" deepens, and grows stronger, it will be easier to lean on Him with everything. I would encourage you to write the "great exchange" down and work through it as well--it has been a great blessing to me, and I know it will be to you also!

And I would definitely encourage some of my young lady followers to read this book. Though it is meant for young woman, many of the points in it apply to guys too, so maybe you sisters that read this book could share your thoughts from it with your brothers:)

-Meg