The Blog
In times of uncertainty and hardship, many of us are searching for something solid to hold onto. The Bible offers us that firm foundation, inviting us to build our lives on the unchanging truth of God’s Word.
In His famous parable, Jesus teaches that the storms of life are inevitable—but instability doesn’t have to be. Rather, He shows us that a life rooted in His teachings is one that stands strong, no matter what comes against us.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:46-49
It’s possible to build a strong foundation for our lives, one that never falters or falls. It’s possible to be so secure that whatever life throws your way, you will not collapse. It’s possible. According to Jesus, when we hear and live out His Word, we can experience this soul-freeing, anxiety-killing, courage-inducing strength and security.
It all starts with being rooted in Scripture.
But what does that truly mean, and how can we cultivate this deep connection with God’s Word? Here are three ways we can be more rooted in the Bible—allowing it to transform us from the inside out and give us the strength and stability we need to face life’s challenges with confidence.
1. Create a Scripture-saturated environment.
In Deuteronomy 6, Moses reminds the people of Israel of their commitment to obey the words of the Lord.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
For many of us, the Bible is a part of our lives—but it is not part of all of the aspects of our lives. For example, we might find Scripture a natural addition to our morning routine and it might take center stage on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. But when it comes to the rest of the week—when it comes to figuring out how to understand the current political climate or the signs of the times or how to reconcile with a relative—Scripture may seem out of place, confusing, or even irrelevant.
But in Deuteronomy, Moses holds out an invitation to total saturation in God’s Word. Rather than merely being part of our lives, Moses says definitively of Scripture: “indeed it is your life” (Deuteronomy 32:47, NASB95, emphasis added). Because other voices are constantly vying for our attention, distracting us from God and His Word, our only hope for being rooted in Scripture is being saturated by it.
Think of a seed. To grow, it must be buried, planted in nutrient-rich soil with access to air and moisture. Our lives are like that. To be rooted in Scripture and truly thrive, we need to create an environment for our lives where Scripture is front and center.
This might look like incorporating worship music into your afternoon walk, trading your usual night in for a Bible study on Thursday night, or serving in your community rather than sleeping in on Saturday. Let the Lord lead you to unique ways you can surround yourself with His Word—and then follow through!
2. Treat Scripture like necessary nourishment—because it is.
In the West, most of us eat three square meals a day, and maybe a few snacks in between. That’s because our bodies require regular nourishment to fuel them, so that we can function as we’ve been designed.
Our souls are no different. To be rooted in Scripture and grow in Christ as we’re called, we need to eat—specifically, we need to consume God’s Word, meditating on it, delighting in it, and living it out until it’s not only a part of our lives but a part of us.
Jeremiah told God,
Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
Jeremiah 15:16
To teach Israel how vital God’s Word was during their wilderness wanderings, God sent bread from heaven each morning to nourish and sustain them. This miracle was not just a provision for their bodies, but an object lesson meant to instruct their souls. Moses told the people,
And [God] humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:3, emphasis added
Consider—if Scripture were food, are you well-fed or malnourished? How can you begin, even today, to consume a steadier diet of God’s Word that will fill you and sustain you for the journey of walking with the Lord?
Maybe you can choose a verse or section of Scripture to commit to memory, so that you can carry God’s Word with you wherever you go. Or maybe you can begin a Bible reading plan or try a new Bible study to help you get into the Word more regularly. However you choose to get more Scripture in your life, eat up and be encouraged—God always nourishes those who come to His Word hungry and expectant!
3. Pass it on—share Scripture with those around you!
One of the most amazing things about consuming a steady diet of Scripture? There are always leftovers!
God has designed His Word to be soul-nourishing, not just for us but for those around us. In Deuteronomy 6, we saw the people of Israel instructed to share Scripture with the next generation. In Jesus’ parable of the soils in Matthew 13, He pictures the person who truly hears and understands His Word bearing fruit (verse 23)—fruit that can be plucked and enjoyed by others.
And in Colossians 3:16, Paul instructs,
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
When Scripture is at home (“dwelling”) in our hearts—when it’s a part of us and our lives are saturated by it—there is always overflow. Filled with God’s Word, we share it with fellow believers and the world, bearing fruit and bringing glory to God. What an incredible gift!
Rooted in Scripture, Growing in Christ
Deep down, we know it’s true—a life rooted in Scripture can’t be sustained by occasional Bible reading or simply attending church. Rather, truly growing in Christ and standing strong in God’s Word starts with being saturated with the Bible, treating it as essential nourishment for our souls and sharing its life-giving power with others. As we deepen our connection to God’s Word, we build an unshakable foundation that will withstand any challenge.
Together, let’s commit to being firmly rooted in the Word—daily, deeply, and wholeheartedly—so that we can live out God’s truth and bless those around us!