Chapter 10: Ep 1: From Theraflu to Prayer: A Testimony of Trusting God

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Hello, beautiful souls. Welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast.

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I'm your host, Connie Morris, and today we're diving into an inspiring episode

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as part of our 40 Days of Spiritual Renewal series.

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This episode is titled, The Strength of Being Rooted in God.

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We'll explore how a life deeply connected to God provides stability,

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growth, and fruitfulness.

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Even in challenging seasons, our foundation is built on his word and promises.

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And when we are firmly rooted, we can flourish against all odds.

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The strength of being rooted, we're going to start out in Jeremiah 17, 7 through 8.

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Yeah, my voice is a little raspy because I'm just getting over some kind of

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bug that was going around. And I do have a story for you that's going to be

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part of our episode, but let me get to it.

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Let's go to Jeremiah 17, 7 through 8.

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It says, but blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

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They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out his roots by the streams.

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It does not fear when he comes. It leaves are always green.

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It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

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Jeremiah 17, 7 through 8. I'm going to read that again.

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It says, But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

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They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the streams.

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It does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are always green.

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It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit again.

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It says, this imagery of a tree planted by the water is so powerful.

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A tree's strength comes from its roots, and its roots draw nourishment and stability from the water.

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In the same way, our spiritual strength comes from staying deeply rooted in

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God, trusting Him, drawing from His Word, and remaining confident in His promises.

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The tree doesn't fear drought or heat because its roots are connected to a constant source of life.

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Likewise, when we stay connected to God, we can thrive in difficult seasons.

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Reflection question here is how deeply are you rooted in your relationship with God?

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I think this is a good point for a testimony here.

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When I read that statement here in Jeremiah 17, in verse 7 through 8,

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it says, But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

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The other day, you know, I was getting my car tuned up and getting it ready

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just because I'd use it for my work.

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And I felt a little sickness trying to come on, right?

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And by the end of the day, it was in full-blown sickness, right?

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I was like, oh my gosh, I feel it coming through my body.

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And my first inkling wasn't this confidence in the Lord.

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It was running to Walmart to get some Theraflu.

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And I thought that was hilarious as I tell you why it was funny.

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Because I was like, wow, wow.

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And then I'm in bed for a couple of days, just aching and pain.

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You know how you get that body aches and pain.

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And then I finally had enough strength to go get to my prayer closet.

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And I took my communion with the Lord and I just prayed and rebuked the fever that I had on my body.

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And it was gone immediately. Just like the Bible said, Jesus rebuked that fever

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and it was gone immediately. And I realized that my confidence at that time wasn't in the Lord.

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It was in the Theraflu.

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And I was like, I could have been well a couple of days ago if I would have

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just put my confidence in the Lord instead of running to the store.

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And so that was a lesson learned right there. And so I just wanted to share

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that testimony with you.

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So how deeply are you rooted in your relationship with God? Where do you run to when things get bad?

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Do you run directly to God or do you run to Walmart and get your Theraflu?

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That was funny to me. And as I was sitting there praying this morning,

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the Lord said, I want you to count on me for everything, every little thing.

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Just trust in me for the little thing. A lot of times I go to God with the big things.

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I figure, you know, I can fight off this cold. I can fight off this cough.

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No, no, no. You come to me for everything.

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Don't trust in your own understanding.

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Stay connected and rooted with God. Amen?

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Okay, let's keep going. Another scripture that reflects this is Psalms 1, 1 through 3.

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It says, blessed is the one. I know I'm a little emotional this morning because

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it's fresh off the press.

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Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night.

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That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit

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in season and whose leaf does not wither.

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Whatever they do prospers.

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So we have another way that when we stay connected to God, that whatever we

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do prosper, that our fruit will always be ripe in the season.

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Our leaf will never, never wither.

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And whatever we do. So when we meditate on God's word and make it the foundation

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of our lives, we bear spiritual fruit.

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That fruit might be peace in a storm, joy in a hardship, kindness in a world that often lacks it.

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How about this rebuking of a fever, rebuking of a fever when you just go to the Lord? Amen.

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Just as a tree can't grow without good soil and water, We can't grow spiritually

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without spending time in God's presence and his word.

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God looks forward to meeting us wherever your schedule is that you meet with him.

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What spiritual fruit is God calling you to produce in this season?

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Isn't that interesting?

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He's causing you, he's always, God's always forward moving.

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So what is that fruit that he's having you to produce in this season?

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Life isn't always easy. Storms come, droughts happen.

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But when our roots go deep into God's truth, we can stand firm.

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Think about the tree in Jeremiah 17. It doesn't fear when heat comes or worry

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during a drought because it's connected to his source of life.

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Psalms 112, 6 reads, the righteous will never be shaken.

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They will be remembered forever.

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It's like when you're standing firm with God, he said, you will never be shaken.

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You will be remembered forever.

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When we're rooted in God, we won't be shaken by life's challenges.

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Instead, we'll remain steadfast, knowing that he is our source of strength.

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What strength, what, let me find it again.

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What storms have you recently faced and how did your faith keep you grounded?

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What storms have you recently faced and how did your faith keep you grounded?

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You know, I think my, usually, I'll say, usually when I get down with the flu

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or whatever that bug was, it usually takes me about five to seven days.

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I can say three days, two and a half days, I was up and at it.

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And so knowing that I was like, I need to get to prayer. I need to get to prayer.

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And so my whole heart was trying to get there. As soon as I got strength enough

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to get to prayer, I was like, boom, I'm in my space.

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And immediately I was made whole.

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And so how do we deepen our spiritual roots?

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Some of it is basic stuff. I don't make it, God doesn't make it difficult.

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One, spending daily time in God's word.

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Psalms 119.105 says, Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.

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Making scripture reading a daily habit to stay connected to God's promises.

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Number two, pray with intention. Prayer is like the water for our souls.

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Spends time talking to God and listening for his guidance.

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And three, surround yourself with a faithful community.

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As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27, 17.

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A strong community helps us stay grounded and grow in faith.

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So we spend time in God's word. We're just listening, reading.

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And you get the right translation if you listen to it. I like listening to it on audible.

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It sounds like he's talking directly, giving you direct instructions.

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Pray with intention and surround yourself with a faithful community.

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Here go some decrees to be rooted in God's word.

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So let's repeat these after me. I decree that I am like a tree planted by streams

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of water, firmly rooted in God's word and promises.

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I decree that I will not fear life's challenges because my confidence is in the Lord.

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I decree that I will bear spiritual fruit in every season and prosper in God's purpose for my life.

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So this week I challenge you to spend time meditating on Jeremiah 17, 7-8.

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We are in March now, so we know that it's almost springtime.

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Snow is starting to melt.

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And so reflect on where your roots are planted. Are they firmly planted to God?

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Are there areas where you need to...

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Dig deeper. And we know where we need to dig deeper at, right?

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So are there some areas you're like, you know, I need to plant some seeds over

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here, dig up some weeds over here, water these seeds over here.

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What do I need to do to make my life, you know, make sure that I'm getting more

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rooted and grounded in the word of God.

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Write down one step you'll take this week to deepen your roots,

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whether it's spending more time in scripture, starting a prayer journal,

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or joining a small a small group.

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Find some way to stay connected so that you can continually to grow.

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And excuse me for coughing in the mic. I apologize.

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All right, so let's close this out in prayer. Heavenly Father,

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I thank you for being the source of our strength and stability.

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Teach us to stay deeply rooted in the word and promises so that we can thrive

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no matter what life brings.

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Help us to bear fruit that glorifies you and to remain steadfast in every season.

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In Jesus' name, amen.

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Thank you for joining me on this episode of Diary of a Black Woman podcast.

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If today's message encouraged you, share with a friend, subscribe for more episodes,

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and until next time, stay rooted in faith, thrive in every season, and be blessed.