Spiritual Roots

Byron Wicker
Byron Wicker
May 29, 2025
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And that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
-Ephesians 3:17

Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

There are seasons when the Holy Spirit leads us to look back, not to dwell in the past, but to remember where we’ve come from and how God has shaped us. I’ve been in one of those seasons lately, and it’s reminded me how vital it is to stay dependent on Him, rather than relying on our experiences, knowledge, or even spiritual insight.

I often reflect on something Arthur Burt, one of my spiritual fathers, shared when I was a young believer. At the time, he had been following the Lord for fifty years and gave this sobering warning: “If I’m not careful, those fifty years could become a liability if I rely on what I know instead of trusting Him.” That stuck with me then, and it still does. Experience is valuable, but it can become a crutch if it replaces fresh trust in God.

I appreciate how Eugene Peterson puts it: “There are no experts in the company of Jesus. We are all beginners, necessarily followers, because we don’t know where we are going.” This journey of faith isn’t about certainty—it’s about trust. The Holy Spirit is always faithful to Scripture, but He often moves beyond what we can predict or understand. We never outgrow our need for Him as our guide.

When the Holy Spirit leads us back to our spiritual roots, it is not to remain there, but to prepare us for what’s ahead. I think back to my early days in a church that some would have called charismatic, though that label never fit. We weren’t typical, but those years shaped my walk with God and my sense of calling. I’ve always been drawn to a spiritual rhythm that doesn’t look like the norm. It hasn’t always been easy, and I don’t claim it’s the best path—but it’s the one God set before me.

The call to remember is not about nostalgia—it’s about realignment. Jesus’ message to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4-5 is a clear reminder: “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.” It’s an invitation to the love and devotion we once knew when we first met Him.

Paul echoes this in Colossians 2:6-7: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Our foundation isn’t in movements or experiences—it’s in Christ. Returning to our roots means renewing our simple, steady trust in Him.

God doesn’t want us to live in the past, but He does ask us to remember. He brings us back to our foundations—not to relive old moments, but to strengthen us for what’s ahead. Christ, our Cornerstone, is still our sure foundation. As we stay rooted in Him, we’re not just grounded—we’re propelled forward. May we never lose that beginner’s heart: rooted in Christ, full of gratitude, and ready to follow wherever He leads.

Many Blessings, BW

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