What It Means to Be Rooted in Christ & How to Establish Strong Roots in Jesus

As Christians, it is so important to establish strong roots in Jesus Christ. If we are going to live out our purpose as followers of Christ, we cannot live the Christian life and fulfill the mission God has for us without being rooted in Christ.

So what does being rooted in Christ mean and where did this come from? In this blog post, we will talk about:

• What it means to be rooted in Christ
• What the Bible says about being rooted
• Why it’s important to be rooted in Christ
• Practical steps to establish strong roots in Jesus Christ

What It Means to Be Rooted in Christ

Strong Roots Like a Tree

Understanding how a tree grows is the best way to describe what rooted in Christ means.

If you envision a tree that grows in the ground, some trees grow hundreds of feet tall and even grow several branches during its lifetime. 

The strong roots of the tree are the foundation and allow the tree to grow tall and strong. The roots provide the foundation for the tree to grow, and provide the necessary nutrients through the soil that the tree needs to grow and to eventually produce fruit.

If someone were to move or replant the tree, a gardener would have to dig and uproot the roots in order for the tree to survive in its new location. The tree’s roots are essential to it’s growth.

Rooted in Christ Meaning

Just like a tree, we are called to grow and produce fruit as Christians for God’s glory. We are called to grow into mature Christians, and we are called to raise disciples and glorify God in the work he calls us to do.

The key to our spiritual growth and bearing fruit is establishing strong roots in Jesus Christ. Jesus provides all the essential nutrients we need to grow and bear fruit and also provides the foundation we need to stand firm when we face trials or tough seasons.

Being rooted in Christ means establishing strong roots or a strong foundation in Christ. Rooting yourself to Jesus means establishing a strong faith and reliance on Jesus so that you will not fall or be tossed around during trials.

Foundation in Christ

Being rooted in Christ can also be described as establishing your life’s foundation in Christ. This concept is described in the Bible in Luke 6.

“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” – Luke 6:47-49 NLT

When you build your life on Christ and his Word, you are building a strong foundation for your life.

Just like a house that is built on a rock, when you build your life on Jesus, you will be able to stand firm during trials or storms. You will not be tossed around when time get tough because you have built your life on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.

Being rooted in Christ and building your life’s foundation centered on Jesus is the key to standing firm in your faith and accomplishing what God has called you to do in this world.

How Can You Be Rooted in Christ? What Does the Bible Say About Being Rooted in Christ?

To understand how you can be rooted in Christ, let’s see what the Bible says about being rooted.

Being Rooted in the Word of God

In Colossians 2, Paul urges the people to be rooted in Christ so they are not deceived by false teachers.

“I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

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

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” – Colossians 2:4-8 NIV

In this verse, we see that the people are called to be rooted in Jesus Christ, to establish a firm faith in Christ, so they are not deceived by false teachers.

In the CSB translation, 2 Colossians 2 says “I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable”.

Paul knew that Christians would be deceived and led astray from following Jesus and God’s Word. Paul knew that people would fall away to follow the customs and pressures of the world that society deems acceptable. And this verse emphasizes that Christians can be deceived by arguments that sound reasonable.

That’s why it’s so important to read, study, and meditate on God’s Word; so that we are not deceived by things of this world that appear good or reasonable.

Reading and studying God’s Word is key to establishing strong roots in Jesus Christ. Knowing and living out God’s Word will help you discern God’s truth from the things off the world that seem good.

We see an emphasis on God’s Word in Psalm 1; the one who meditates on God’s Word will be like a tree planted by streams of water.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.” – Psalm 1:1-4

This verse also addresses what happens to those that are not planted or rooted by God’s Word. While a person is like a tree planted by the streams of water from meditating on God’s Word, the wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Those that don’t know or study God’s Word will not be rooted in Christ; they will be blown away by false teachings or from the ways of the world.

Being Rooted in the Love of Jesus Christ

In Ephesians 3, Paul is praying for the Ephesians, praying that Christ dwells in their hearts through faith and that they are rooted and established in his love.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV

We see in this bible verse that we are called to be rooted and established in love. Ephesians 3 also talks about being strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside each follower of Christ, but we need to root ourselves in the love of Christ to experience and understand the fullness of God and this power.

When we root ourselves in the love of God and how much he loves each one of us, we have a sense of peace and confidence knowing who we are as children of God.

Do you ever notice how Christians carry more confidence in who they are and what they are capable of? Do you notice that they are secure in their identity as followers of Christ?

It’s the same with a child that grows up with a healthy relationship with his father.

According to Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R), by helping kids to understand how much they are valued and loved, children with supportive fathers are more likely to have high self-esteem and are generally happier and more confident. They are also demonstrate a greater tolerance for stress/frustration, less hesitation/fear in new situations and an increased ability to resist peer pressure and stand up for themselves.

For Christians, being rooted in God’s love helps establish a strong confidence and identity in Christ. By knowing how much we are loved, we are filled with the confidence and power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish what God has created us to do.

And by being rooted in God’s love, we are able to stand up against peer pressure or pressure from the world because we know we are already loved and accepted by God. When we are tempted to be deceived from things of this world that appear reasonable, we will have the confidence to reject the ways of the world.

Rooted in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Being rooted in the word of God and in the love of Christ are essential to a strong foundation in Christ, but it’s also important to be rooted in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3 also talks about the power of the Holy Spirit and that it is through this power that we are able to accomplish what God is calling us to do.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” – Ephesians 3:20 NIV

Knowing that our strength comes from this power is essential as well as knowing how to discern and walk in step with your Spirit.

Your Holy Spirit will guide and speak to you personally which is why it’s so important to have your own personal relationship with God to get to know how God wants to speak to you from within.

As you apply the word of God to things you hear in the world, your Holy Spirit will help you discern God’s will. You may feel a strong sense of peace or urgency to go in a certain direction that can only come from your Spirit within.

As you establish your roots in Jesus, tune in to your Spirit and rely on the strength and power that can only come from your Holy Spirit within. You'll be able to accomplish more than you ever thought possible through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside you.

When you are faced with your own Goliath in hard times, you'll be able to rely on the power and strength from your Holy Spirit to stand strong and persevere. 

Why It’s Important to Be Rooted in Christ

In addition to experiencing and living in the fullness of Christ and his love, here are 3 other reasons why it’s important to be rooted in Jesus Christ.

To Stand Strong During Trials

Being rooted in Christ also helps us stand strong and firm during trials that come our way.

In Jeremiah 7, the Bible refers to those who trust in the Lord and that they will be like a tree planted by the water, not fearing when heat comes.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 7:7-8 NLT

Once again, we see the Bible talk about confidence which helps Christians stand firm in their faith when trials or temptations come along.

Just like a tree with strong roots is able to stand strong during a storm, when you establish strong roots in Christ, you’ll be able to stand strong and not fall down when trials come your way.

When you are rooted in Christ, you’ll be able to stand strong in confidence knowing that God is in control. You won’t fear or worry when heat or trials come your way because you know who God is and what he is capable of.

And since you are rooted in Christ, you’ll be able to continue bearing fruit, even in tough seasons.

You'll be able to stand strong in your faith even during major life changes or transitions.

Being Rooted in Christ is the Key to Bearing Fruit

We’ve seen the tree analogy come up a few times in the Bible so far as well as the concept of “bearing fruit”.

As the Bible talks about in John 15, being rooted in Christ also enables us to bear fruit for God’s glory. Establishing our roots in Christ enables us to be successful in this world and accomplish what God has created us to do.

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:4-8 NIV

Jesus is the true vine. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. As Christians, we have to fix or root ourselves to Jesus in order to do what we are called to do in this world.

Jesus is our source to bearing fruit for this world. Jesus provides the nutrients we need – love, truth, and power – to accomplish what God created us to do in this world.

And as we remain in Jesus and bear fruit, God is glorified because we are proving to be disciples of Jesus.

To Discern God’s Truth so That You Are Not Deceived

We’ve already seen in Colossians 2 that it’s important to be rooted in Christ so that we are not deceived by things of this world that seem good or reasonable.

The Bible talks about the last days in Matthew 24 and warns that many will fall away and be deceived.

“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” - – Matthew 24:4-5 NIV

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 24:10-12 NIV

It is so important to know God’s Word now more than ever so that when you hear something that sounds good, you’ll be able to apply God’s Word as the source of truth and expose any arguments that don’t quite line up with God’s truth.

Strong roots in Jesus and in God's Word will help you discern and stand strong when faced with decisions that contradict God's Word. You'll be able to say no to lies or pressures of the world because you know what God's Word says.

Practical Steps to Become More Rooted in Christ

How can you practically become more rooted in Christ? How can you make sure your roots are affixed to Jesus and that you have the roots and foundation you need to grow and to stand strong?

Here are 5 ways you can become more rooted in Christ:

1) Surrender Your Whole Life to Christ

God wants our whole life and heart, not just parts of it. If there is an area that you know is out of line with God’s Word or that is not producing Godly fruit, this may be causing the storms and trials in your life.

Surrender any areas to God that have been holding you back and watch how God brings peace to this area of your life.

And if you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, learn more about what it means to follow Jesus and to become a follower of Christ.

2) Meditate on God’s Word

Reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word is so important. The more you meditate on God’s Word, the stronger your roots will become in Jesus.

In order to deceive the lies of the Enemy and lies of this world, you first need to know and understand what God’s Word says.

If you want to be able to discern the counterfeit promises the world offers, you have to first spend time with the source of truth, God’s Word, which will expose anything that contradicts with God’s Word.

The Bible tells us that people perish due to lack of knowledge.

I was perishing for so long before I surrendered my life to God because I never read the Bible. I thought I was growing closer to God by going to church more, but until I read the Bible and understood how God wanted me to live, I was destroying my life in the party scene and didn’t even know it.

Reading and obeying God's Word helped transform me from a girl stuck in the party world to a girl in love with Jesus. You can read more about how God transformed my life and how I became a Christian here.

Meditating on God’s Word will also increase your faith. As you read and see all that God has done for his people, you’ll be filled with hope that God is faithful and that he will perform miracles for you.

And in seasons of waiting or tough seasons, you’ll be able to stand strong because you know that God is faithful. You’ll remember what God has done in the past, and you’ll be able to stand on God’s promises that he will do it again for those who believe.

Being rooted in Christ also means that you have faith in God and what he is capable of. You know God’s promises and you believe that God will give you what you ask for.

As you spend more time with God’s Word, make sure you are reading the Bible or listening to the Bible for yourself. God wants to speak to you directly through his Word, and he speaks the loudest when you read the Word for yourself.

If you only hear the Word of God on Sundays at church, you may have trouble growing. When you only hear the Word of God at church or from others on Instagram, you are not getting the spiritual nourishment you need to grow.

God wants to feed you the spiritual nourishment you need every day as you read the Word for yourself.

If you're looking for a new devotion to start reading the Bible more, check out my 40-day summer devotional if you're looking for beach devotions to read this summer :)

3) Spend Time With God in Prayer and Worship

As Christians, we must learn to rely on the voice of the Holy Spirit within to guide and direct us. God wants a personal relationship with each one of us, and we each need to spend quality time with God to strengthen this relationship and hear how God is speaking to us.

I feel God’s presence the most when I spend time in prayer and worship. I get off my couch, sing out loud to a few praise and worship songs, and start praying.

As I worship God in praise, it’s like I feel my Spirit come alive. I feel God’s presence and I feel the most close to God during these moments.

And as I pray, I pause and listen for God’s voice. I give God a chance to speak back to me, to see if he is trying to reveal anything through my Spirit.

4) Surround Yourself With the Right People

Surrounding yourself with the right people and community is like a tree being planted in rich soil.

Just like a tree, if it’s planted in the wrong climate, it won’t be able to grow to its full potential.

The atmosphere you surround yourself with is critical for our spiritual growth. While each one of us must attach ourselves to Jesus as the true vine, the people around us will either accelerate or stunt our spiritual growth.

As a Christian, it’s so important to plant yourself in a community of other believers and to accelerate and support your spiritual growth. You want to be surrounded by other people who want to grow big and tall and reach their fullest potential. You don’t want to be surrounded by people who are fine with settling for mediocre growth, or who uproot themselves and move around when times get tough.

You need Christian friends who will still be standing strong with you when times get tough. You need friends who are going to support you during storms if you do start to fall over.

How can you tell if you should be hanging around someone?

The Bible tells us that you can tell a tree by its fruit and that a tree that doesn’t produce fruit will be cut down.

What kind of fruit are they producing in their life? Are they producing any fruit at all? Does their life produce fruit of this world or fruit that glorifies God?

What are their roots attached to? Are they attached to God and his Word?

Pray and ask God for discernment to discern the people that should be in your life. He will reveal their true fruit and show you the people you’re meant to grow with.

And as you surround yourself with a good community to grow in, it’s important to make sure your roots are still attached to Jesus; not to anyone else.

Each one of us needs to rely on Jesus; not on our pastors, our mentors, or our friends who are more spiritually mature than us.

Even as a new Christian, attaching yourself and relying on others for support instead of Jesus can create unhealthy and toxic relationships. Attaching yourself to others does not establish the strong roots you need to stand strong.

God will bring the right community in your life, but make sure your roots are constantly attached to Jesus as your main source of life.

If you are praying for God to bring you new Christian friends, check out this blog post on How to Make Christian Friends & Be a Better Friend.

5) Humble Yourself Before the Lord

Being rooted in Christ means that we cannot do anything apart from him. Jesus is the true vine and to be deeply rooted in Christ, we must admit that we depend on God for everything in our life.

Even when times are good, we cannot try and attach our roots or lay our foundation on something other than Christ.

Humbling yourself before the Lord means admitting that you need him and that you can’t do anything without him. It means being totally dependent on God as the source of everything in your life.

It means making God your #1 priority and realizing that your success in this life comes from him.

And as you live like every part of your life depends on God, he will continue giving you the nutrients you need to grow and bear fruit.

Strong Roots in Jesus

As you root yourself in the Word of God, the love of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, you'll be able to stand strong and grow into the fullness of God created you to be. 

Do You Want to Strengthen Your Roots in Jesus?

If you want to learn how you can strengthen your relationship with God and grow spiritually in different areas, download my free Spiritual Goals Worksheet to identify how you can grow closer to God in ten different areas.

This worksheet will help you identify how you can establish strong roots in Jesus and examples of things you can do each week to become more rooted in Christ.

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With Love,

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