In my home, I have several house plants that bring me much delight. I take care to see that they are planted in good soil, and I water them regularly. Why? Because they need the nutrients in the soil and plenty of clean water to grow and flourish and produce fruit. Their root systems bring the nutrients and moisture up into the leaves so that what I see pleases me—beautiful, healthy plants.
Jeremiah 17:7,8:
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
We want to get rooted and grounded in God’s Word so that we can grow and flourish spiritually. We do this by going to God’s Word for our spiritual nutrients, studying and applying the Word in our lives. Our spiritual root system may take time to grow, but the fruit it produces in our lives is well worth the effort we put into developing it. I’ve found that a great way to get rooted in the Word is to spend time researching a topic and then apply it in my life. I become so fully convinced of that topic that nothing can talk me out of it, and I reap the results of believing the Word.
Perhaps you would like to know more about something in the Word like peace or love or how to overcome fear in a particular category. Maybe you want to know more of what the Word says about health and prosperity. First, get clear and concerned on what you want to become better rooted and grounded in. What you choose to study depends on what your need is at a particular time. As you study, you can keep in mind God’s promises in the following verses:
Psalms 19:7:
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalms 119:130:
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Next, study your topic and apply it in different ways. You might determine a key word in the topic you want to study and look it up in a concordance. Then look up the scriptures listed and read them in their context. If your topic is peace, for example, you could find verses such as the following:
Psalms 119:165:
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Isaiah 26:3:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Another way of researching a topic is to read what has already been written about that topic. Research is not necessarily finding something new, but “re-searching” what has already been taught to establish truths in your own life. For instance, if you are searching for answers in the financial category, the booklet Christians Should Be Prosperous, by Victor Paul Wierwille, shows Christians how to apply the principles involved in opening the floodgates to God’s abundance.
There are many books and other publications available in The Way Ministry that help with topics like who Jesus Christ is, what happens when someone dies, and receiving holy spirit and manifesting it. The Way Magazine is another resource, as is our website, which can connect you to many articles like this one. For listings of scriptures on various topics, you can go to the web page “This Is What God Says” on the website. Another resource is the Give and Share Series booklets, found in our Way International Bookstore, which are wonderful topical studies to read and share with others.
In addition to the many publications The Way Ministry makes available, our Biblical research classes provide a strong foundation in the principles of how the Word interprets itself so that as workmen of the Word, we need never to be ashamed (II Timothy 2:15). The syllabuses received in these classes are a ready source for study of God’s Word. You may also want to keep up with current teachings in the ministry by enjoying the weekly Sunday Teaching Services.
As you study, decide on ways to apply what you are learning. You can memorize verses that you find most helpful and stay focused on them throughout your day. Sharing what you are working on with someone else helps establish it for you even further. Maybe you know someone who would be blessed to hear about what you are learning because it would help them also.
So, what in God’s Word do you want to get better rooted and grounded in? With so many resources available for studying the Word, you can develop a strong spiritual root system, becoming fully convinced of the Word in whatever category you choose to study. As you become rooted and grounded in the Word, you will grow and flourish spiritually.
Psalms 1:2,3:
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.