I’ve made several recent attempts at getting back into this blogging thing (again – it seems like I’m always returning, doesn’t it?), but I’m going to try and make it work for real this time. Hopefully the fact that I’m blogging announcements for my youth group will remind me that I also like to do this for my own personal enjoyment. High hopes?
Anyways, I recently purchased a song on iTunes by Justin Rizzo called “Tree”. I was first introduced to this song by my sister back in February(ish) (before it was actually released), and it has been one of those songs that has stuck with me for months and months, so I was absolutely thrilled when I discovered that it is one of the tracks on Justin’s debut album, Found Faithful. The lyrics are simple, yet profound:
I wanna be unmovable and unshakable
So let my roots grow down deep
Unmovable and unshakable in YouI wanna be like a tree
Planted by the streams of living water
I wanna be like a tree
Planted by the streams of living waterThis will be my song, God
This will be my prayer
Till the end, till the end
In the midst of the coming storm
In the midst of the coming blessing
That my life would be built on the rock
That I will not be moved
Not be shaken
This simple song reminds me of the importance of having deep roots in everything that we do. Being rooted in love. Being rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Being rooted in spiritual disciplines. Being rooted in relationships. For it is only when our roots grow deep that our branches can grow wide. Thus, “Deep Roots. Wide Branches.” The whole premise for Justin’s song comes from Psalm 1:1-3:
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
When our roots have grown deep and we have planted ourselves firmly by the stream of Living Water, we will truly be unmovable and unshakable. As I find myself in a very transitory season in my life, this is so important. And so, this is my prayer. “I wanna be imovable and unshakeable, so let my roots grow down deep. I wanna be like a tree planted by the streams of Living Water.”
Hey there Erin! Im finally entering the blogging scene after however many years its been popular hah. I’m psyched.
I just wanted to elaborate on your point about the importance of having deep roots in everything we do, especially when we’re in transition mode. I can totally connect with what you’re saying, as I am also going through new phases of my life.
I think pretty much everybody can relate to the whole search for identity. We can be influenced so strongly by other people’s thoughts and opinions of who we are and what we should be concerned about. The media screams this attitude of “gimme more” and shallowness, while perfect bodies and sex ooze out of the TV. It’s all around us. Is this what we’re supposed to follow? Even the “American Dream” is based off of personal gain and acquiring material wealth.
GOOD NEWS. As Christians we are not defined by societal things like magazines, horoscopes, or Perez Hilton; but by Jesus Christ. We are images of Him. We are facilitators of truth.We are made perfect in HIM. And I’m pretty sure that no plastic surgeon or make up ad can quite make that claim.
In times of change we are re-shaping and re-evaluating ourselves. It is at this point when we feel most vulnerable and susceptible to the lies and shortcomings in which this world has been trapped.
It is SO important to be rooted in His word so we don’t fall victim to the deceits of society. Only when we ourselves are centered in God’s word can we spread our branches to reach out to other people. Only when we recognize Christ as the bedrock of our lives will we be unshakable.
“I wanna be unmovable and unshakable
So let my roots grow down deep
Unmovable and unshakable in You”
p.s. whoa it wasn’t my intention to by preachy or to write an essay-I may have been a bit overenthusiastic about this comment thing :P
That song is so incredibly powerful. Simple, like you said, but so powerful.
OMG I love this song!
Justin Rizzo right?