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Let me first state that I am not an expert on this topic.  The counseling community has been doing this for years.  However, when it comes to those in the church, we seem to forget this as we deal with situations and our own sin. What am I talking about?  Fixing symptoms rather than the roots. Three Scriptures that I want to share are: 10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV) 3  For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5  We destroy...

In this chapter from Recovering Redemption, Matt Chandler shares how we live the Christian life knowing what He explained in earlier chapters of the book.  See previous posts on this blog.  And for believers, this means (1) renouncing what is old, (2) rerooting in what is new, and (3) perpetually asking God for help to keep this transformation happening. God's the one who knows you'll never be whole if the only solution He ever implements in your life is just pruning back the bad behavior. Renounce the roots, but not the Gardener. . .The problem is where we're seeking to plant them, where we're rooting them. But if we root these same desires in the kingdom of heaven--in the truths and promises of God--they will instead produce the fruit of the Spirit within us.       

I picked up a copy of Thrive by Mark Hall when I was in Atlanta for the International Christian Retail Show. I finished the book before I left on vacation.  Here are some thoughts from the book: You were meant to do more than just survive. You were meant to thrive. You were created for one purpose: to know God and to make him known. We have to dig our roots deep. And when we do, we naturally will reach out. A balanced believer is supposed to do both. What God starts, he finishes. Digging into the truth helps us root out the weeds of the world. We hear God's Word speak truth into specific situation all the time. But by the time it bounces around our brains a few times and goes through the filters that Satan and his evil world system have slipped into our heads, we talk ourselves out of God's promises, provision, and protection. We convince ourselves that it's still all on our shoulders. I have to guard my time with God every day because it's the first thin...