One Word 2016: Rooted

For quite a few years, I've asked God to give me a word or verse to meditate on for the coming year. I've found this to be a wonderful exercise. And without fail, after I have settled on the word or verse, it will pop up again and again and again over the year as it unfolds.

As 2015 came to a close, I felt that God was prompting me to get rooted. And then I found this verse in Colossians 2:6:

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (NIV)

Rooted.

Here's the funny thing about plants and flowers. If you transplant them frequently, and water infrequently, they have a tendency to develop shallow roots. Everything is on the surface of the soil. And it may be good for that hour, but it's not beneficial to the plant in the long run.

It's easy to see that I've been transplanted...a lot. And consequently, I have a tendency to develop some shallow roots because, quite frankly, it hurts too much to have deep roots yanked out of firmly established soil.

I think of it as my safety mechanism. And it might be a comfort zone where I want to be, but it's not the zone where God wants me to be.

I love this translation in the ESV as well. "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him."

Yes, I need to walk in him, daily, in so many ways, not the least of them being actual physical walking again. It's one of my most tangible forms of meditation and prayer time. And it's been sorely lacking since I moved.

And "overflowing/abounding in thankfulness." Yes, God showed me at the close of 2015 how much I needed this.

And this verse continues in verses nine and ten:

"For in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

I think that deeply rooted and fullness go hand in hand. God wants me to be rooted because He wants me to have life, and have it to the full. Rooted in the Word, rooted in community, rooted in family, rooted in faith. And over all of it, a generous watering of thankfulness.

Rooted. My word for 2016.

Do you have a word for the new year?

{Today's Brew: Papertrey Ink Petite Pots stamp set, PTI inks, micron marker, date stamp from SMASH}