Get To the Root of the Problem by Ann Elaine Broughton

"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants........The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stand for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop" (Luke 8: 7, 14,15 NIV).

A few years ago someone from the church brought us a dump truck load of free mulch. I was happy at the time, but little did I know that the mulch contained a million thistle seeds. As I was on my knees pulling two garbage bags of thistles, a devotion came to my mind.  First of all, getting to the root of your problem took on a whole new meaning for me, because the root of a thistle seems to go down the middle of the earth. If you don't pull the root of the thistle out, it will grow again to pester you.
So it is with life. We all have weaknesses in our lives that are like the thistles. They hinder our witness to others and our own relationship with Christ. Satan loves to use those weaknesses to make us do things that aren't pleasing to God. If we don't get to the root of our weakness and yank it out and present it to God, we are very likely to give in to a temptation.  We must put all of our weaknesses at Jesus' feet so that He can help us when we are tested. We need to trust God and not worry. Pursuing riches and forgetting about God will only bring ruin to us and running after pleasure will only give us happiness for a brief time. To have a noble and good heart, to retain the word of God, and persevere is what Jesus wants all of us to do. This week pray and ask God to show you a weakness you have and then give that weakness to Him, asking Him for guidance and direction. Read the Bible and see how God directs you. May His word fill you so that you will mature as a Christian and as long as you live continue to grow in faith.
Dear Lord,
We all know that we are not perfect, and that we have faults and weaknesses that can hinder our relationship with you and our witness to nonbelievers. Please help us this week as we seek guidance from you on how to overcome these weaknesses and mature as Christians. Thank you for your word that helps us learn to live a life that is pleasing to you.
In Jesus' name,
Amen