Rooted in Christ

God continually gives us opportunities to minister to those around us. He gives us eyes to see the scars they bear and the burdens they carry. Perhaps their struggle is with an addiction, an abusive relationship, or an unplanned pregnancy.

Jesus is calling us to minister to others from a place of God-dependency instead of self-sufficiency.

When we put our faith in action, the life of Christ is released from deep inside of us and we become a dwelling place for His love. When His love lives inside of us, it becomes the source of our strength and the root of our life. And when we are rooted in Christ, He gives us the wisdom to know what to say.

As access to abortion increases, God’s people are embracing His call to be His hands to those who are hurting, His feet to those who need resources, and His heart to those who need answers. He is the vine, and we have the privilege of being His branches.

Because we are rooted in Christ, the Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center is able to provide a peaceful place for women to grow in their faith and prepare for the birth of their babies. We provide a safe place for them to slow down the momentum of the decisions that have brought them to this place and really listen to the Lord — to hear that He has a plan for their lives and a hope for their futures.

Precious God, we long to live in Your fullness and serve You from a place of faith — to be fully rooted in You. We ask You to strengthen us by Your Spirit. We long to open ourselves daily to the presence of Christ so that He can live in us and be invited into every interaction and each conversation. With both feet planted firmly in You, help us to consider the extravagant dimensions of Your love — to experience its breadth, see its length, plumb its depths, and rise to its heights.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” —Ephesians 3:20-21, NLT.

Sherry Sherwood is CEO of the Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center.

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.

Written for devotions.