We have a plant in my garden that I want to get rid of, but I know that there is no point in only pruning back the leaves or cutting off what I can see. I need to get serious, put in some effort and get this plant out by its life source – the roots!
There is an unusual account in the bible where Jesus revealed how to deal with the root cause of an issue. One day Jesus and His disciples were walking along the road and …..
“Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, Jesus went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
The next morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Teacher, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” (Matthew 11:12-14)
If you have ever seen a fig tree you will know that they are massive trees. So what happened to that fig tree that Jesus cursed? After Jesus spoke to it, the tree initially didn’t look any different, for it was as green and leafy as ever. However the next day, the fig tree was completely withered up. Why? Because trees don’t die from the leaves down, they die from the roots up. Jesus hadn’t bothered to be confused or distracted with what He could see. He knew that He was speaking to that tree’s life source and that it would do exactly as He had told it to.
Too often when we are faced with an issue or problem in our life we are distracted by what we can see, instead of dealing with the root cause and its life source to be able to remain in our lives.
Everything in life has a source but if we don’t go straight to it we are only ever going to deal with things superficially, which means they will resurface and “grow” right back. We can waste our time, prayers and effort cutting back at the “leaves” – what we can see on the surface, instead of making the hard calls, putting in the effort, getting the best advice possible and dealing with the root.
If you know that you have been struggling with an issue and it just keeps on raising its ugly head. If you’ve talked about it, maybe even had professional help; you’ve prayed and that thing still keeps on coming up, I encourage you to ask God to show you what and where the root is. Ask Him to reveal to you the point where everything is originating from, because that’s what you need to get out of your life.
Just as Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered up, seek out and then tell that thing (whether it’s a medical issue, emotional or mental trauma, addiction, bad habit, or any other stronghold) that it can no longer reside in your life. Seek to deal with the cause and command it to shrivel up and completely die at the roots, so that God’s life can instead flourish in its place.
Today seek God and listen to His guidance as He leads you on how to remove and deal with the root cause of your issue, so you can get that thing out of your life once and for all!
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Matthew 11:22-25)
Prayer: Lord please show me what the root of my issue and grant me wisdom and clarity to know exactly where this is coming from in my life. I want to be free and to walk in complete wholeness physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally and to know your love and goodness as my life source. In Jesus Name Amen.