Look at this photo carefully. Have you ever seen a tree that is green and leafy on top and as you scan down you notice the bare roots covering the ground and most likely deep inside the earth, so it is stabilized? See those big rocks scattered on top of the ground. What are they there for? Well, I’m not an arborist, nor am I an agricultural specialist, but I can explain why I chose this image for this November 2026 blog.
We have just come off one of the most continuous voting days in decades. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone seems to be seething with anger, and they are ready to jump down anyone’s throat if they do not agree with their analogy of our nation’s situation. I hear many who have given up on “party designations” and voting just because they do not like who is running the show. History shows us a repeated pattern – if one party is in power in the Presidency, then the other one is voted into Congress. Okay, so history once again repeats itself. I’d like to look at this from a unique perspective.
That tree image above is like the lives we currently live. Yes, the canopy is green, and it looks good from the outside, but those roots of poor decisions and those deeper roots of embedded sin in our lives hold this tree of our upright. Let me ask you: “What’s your daily dose of SIN, each morning? Do you smack the alarm, roll over and look at your phone? I bet you do. Statistically, that’s what most people do. Did you know that this is sinful behavior?
What if you opened your eyes and thanked God for awakening and you thanked Him for all His blessing? What if you then asked Him this: “Lord, what do you want me to do to serve here on earth where you have placed me?” That may sound crazy to you, but I have seen this simple morning routine change people’s lives!
Your current “Daily Dose of Sin,” causes enormous complications and consequences to all who engage in it. Tomorrow when you wake up, take note of what you do first through five. These daily routines have infiltrated your life and taken you off track of what God wants you to do and to be.
Like the deep roots of this tree, it is just like the deep roots the enemy has grown inside of you. He is directly your every thought, mood, words, and actions. Every time you repeat these actions you are entrenched deeper into sin. A famous author named A.W. Tozer wrong this “Jesus called “life and self” and when you put them together you get selflife” ~ today we would say “SELFISH!” Our self wants to be in control. Our self wants to have what it wants when it wants it. Our self is very self-centered. Our self looks for gain/to win in every situation. Our self is “selfish!” This isn’t a pretty picture, is it? Kind of looks like a toddler having a temper tantrum! And even after satisfying all these self-centered wants we still long and are looking for something more. Right?
Green pastures of peace do not magically appear just because you want them. We must first put aside and clear out all the dirty sin that has permeated and infected our bodies, minds and souls. This is extremely hard to do. Look up again at those rocks around that tree. Those just might be what or who is holding you down.
Let me explain, sometimes we are just around and interacting with the wrong people, in the wrong places, and listening to the wrong words and music. Our eyes and ears drift to what we are used to seeing and hearing. That doesn’t mean it is good. Walking away takes courage and someone bigger than you. It takes GOD!
First open up your clenched fists and ask GOD to release you from this evil in your life.
Repent and let GOD know you have made these wrong choices.
Next tell GOD you will no longer engage with these people, places and things and you need HIS help to cleanse you from the inside out.
Ask GOD to bring new Christian people around you, and new places where you will not be polluted, and you can see, taste, and feel what GOOD really is.
I will also leave you with this, you may feel like GOD is taking way too long to come and lift you up and out of the sin in your life. Not so. I know from experience that sometimes you may not have learned the lesson He is teaching you.
What you may find out is GOD shows up in small ways every day, we have to be looking for each of those blessings. It is important to note: God does not operate in a “timeframe” like we do. His ways are not our ways either. Be assured, GOD is always working in the background to put things in place to work His will in our lives. Wait on GOD, He does not rush.
There are some very important things you can do right now are:
- Buy yourself a Bible and start to read it every day. A pastor I know says: “A chapter a day, keeps the devil away.”
- Attend a “Bible Teaching Church.” You should attend several different churches near you and see which one GOD wants you at attend.
- Get involved in that church GOD chose for you in small ways.
- Pray consistently.
- Thank GOD all day for His blessing to you.
- Praise and listen to music that speaks to your new clean soul!
- Be still and begin to listen to GOD’s still small voice, HE does not shout!
John 6:44 in your Bible says this: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” This means GOD is always knocking at your heart asking you to let Him come in and to accept Him. It’s not hard, but there is only one doorknob on the door of your heart and it’s on your side of the door.
Stop right now and ask GOD to cleanse you from the inside out and to light your path so bright you cannot miss where is leading you and what He is saying to you right now.
If you need help starting or continuing this journey into faith, reach out. I am here.
janice@janicebastanicoaching.com
908-229-3797
www.janicebastanicoaching.com
www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/janicebastani
