The Fine Print: Part 2 — Rooted in the Spirit
- Aug 11
- 6 min read
Isaiah 11:2 — “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.”
Hey friend, Welcome to Week Two of our Rooted series.
Last week, we opened with “Rooted in the Promise”—a reminder that even when things look cut off, dry, or forgotten, God never forgets what He plants. He is the Keeper of covenants, and what He speaks, He watches over.
If you missed Part One, click here to catch up. It laid the foundation for everything we’re about to unpack.
This week, we’re building on that foundation.
Because the Branch Isaiah spoke of—Jesus—grew not just because of a promise, but also because of power. And that power was the Spirit of the Lord.
So now, we shift from the promise that was planted to the Spirit that was poured.
This is Part Two: Rooted in the Spirit.
A Thought Before We Begin…
Before we jump into Isaiah 11:2, I couldn’t help but reflect on something from last week.
Yes—God made a promise. But the people still had to wait.
Isaiah prophesied that a King was coming… but that King hadn’t been born yet. They had to wait on Mary to become pregnant…Wait for the child to grow…Wait for Him to rise into position.
That’s not a delay—that’s development.
The same God who fulfilled that promise is still fulfilling yours. The timing isn’t off—He’s just building something that will last.
Let me ask you:
✨ What has God spoken to you long ago that you’re still holding on to?
✨ Could it be that the promise isn’t denied—it’s just in progress?
✨ If you really believed that, how would you posture yourself differently right now?
As for me? I had to stop and say:
Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for watching over Your Word. Thank You that Your promises aren’t fragile. You are a man of Your Word—yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). And today, I choose to wait well.
So friend—I challenge you: hold on even tighter to your promise. Our God keeps His word.
Rooted in the Spirit: The Overflow of the Promise
Let’s zoom in on Isaiah 11:2.
The very next verse after the promise of the Branch tells us what empowered that Branch to grow:
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him…”
Jesus didn’t rise in His own strength. Let that sink in: JESUS did not use His own strength.
Did you catch that?
If He had help—why are we out here trying to be superhuman?
Sips tea. I’m guilty.
Let’s just repent.
Jesus, forgive me for trying to do life in my own strength. I choose, from this moment forward, to depend on You for everything. Nothing is too small. Nothing is too big. Nothing is too silly. You can pick the nail polish. You can pick the parking spot. You can even pick the outfit.
Friend, honestly? I’ve learned that inviting the Holy Spirit into the everyday routine makes it so much easier to trust Him in the big life decisions.
Whether it’s deciding about surgery… or sensing Him say, “not yet.”Even something as simple as where to sit on a plane—it may sound odd, but I trust the Holy Spirit.
Why?
Because He’s seen tomorrow. I haven’t even seen the next hour.
Sure, I might have a plan—but the Holy Spirit knows the details within the hour. And I choose to trust Him.
Jesus didn’t fulfill His purpose apart from God. He was filled—and rooted—in the Spirit.
And if we’re called to follow Him, we can’t do it in our own strength either. We need that same Spirit resting on us.
The Seven Attributes of the Spirit (Isaiah 11:2)
1. The Spirit of the Lord
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him…”
This is God’s Spirit—not a vibe, not a mood, not just a Sunday morning feeling.
This is the same Spirit that:
Hovered over the waters in Genesis
Filled the tabernacle in Exodus
Raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11)
To be “rooted in the Spirit” means we are resting in Someone greater. We’re not just doing life for God—we’re doing life with God.
2. The Spirit of Wisdom
Wisdom is more than intelligence. It’s divine perspective—seeing things not just as they are, but as God sees them.
Wisdom shows up when:
You choose not to respond in your feelings
You steward money God’s way, even when it doesn’t make sense
You ask God, “What would please You?” before “What do I want?”
Friend, God wants to show us the way—but He won’t force us. He’s a gentleman. Love always gives the choice.
If you’re already seeking His wisdom, that’s beautiful! But don’t get so familiar that you start taking His wisdom for granted.
There’s always room to go deeper.
3. The Spirit of Understanding
Understanding gives depth to wisdom. It’s wisdom applied.
Jesus operated in this constantly—discerning people’s hearts, not just their words (John 2:24–25).
This is the kind of Spirit-led insight that helps you:
See pain underneath someone’s anger
Recognize worry as rooted in fear
Hear Scripture speak directly to an unseen issue
Understanding helps you stop reacting—and start responding Spirit-first.
4. The Spirit of Counsel
Counsel is divine direction—God’s strategy for your life.
Jesus said, “I only do what I see the Father doing” (John 5:19).That’s counsel. He didn’t follow His feelings. He followed heaven.
The Spirit offers the same counsel today:
When you’re navigating a tough relationship
When you’re deciding whether to take that job or wait
When you’re trying to resolve a conflict God’s way
He is not just our Comforter—He is our Counselor (John 14:26).
5. The Spirit of Might
Might is strength—but not the world’s version.
It’s not hustle. It’s not burnout energy. It’s Holy Spirit power that sustains you when your strength runs out.
It looks like:
Forgiving someone who hurt you deeply
Praying when you feel like giving up
Walking in purpose even when your emotions say “not today”
Jesus displayed might when He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).That wasn’t human strength. That was Spirit power.
6. The Spirit of Knowledge
This is relational knowledge—intimacy with God, not just information about Him.
The Spirit of knowledge helps you:
Recognize when God is redirecting your steps
Sense when a Scripture is reading your mail
Get a check in your spirit before stepping into something that “looks” right
This kind of knowledge only grows in relationship.
7. The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
This… this is the anchor. The key. The holy reverence.
Oh Lord, You are King of kings. The thought of You should humble us, not make us hide from You—but bow before You.
Think of how we act around our pastors—we don’t curse or act out of order in their presence. It’s not fear—it’s respect. Now imagine that level of reverence, multiplied for the Holy God.
To fear the Lord means:
You obey Him even when it’s costly
You honor Him when no one is watching
You care more about His opinion than anyone else’s
Jesus lived this way—fully submitted to the Father.
Reflection Moment
So friend, which part of His Spirit do you need most right now?
💭 Wisdom for a hard decision?
💭 Might to keep going when you’re tired?
💭Counsel in a confusing season?
💭 Or maybe… a fresh reverence for who He is?
Take a deep breath. You don’t have to strive. You just have to receive.
The same Spirit that rested on Jesus… is available to you.
Prayer
Jesus, Thank You for being my Advocate—always interceding for me at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34).Thank You for leaving me with the perfect gift: the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here. Rest on every part of my life. Take up residence. Clean house.
Forgive me for placing clutter in spaces meant for You. Teach me to steward our relationship with honor and sensitivity.
If there’s any doubt in me, remove it—and replace it with the truth of God’s Word. Stir in me again like a fresh fire (2 Timothy 1:6).Be a consuming fire.
Holy Spirit, make me Your dwelling place—forever. Uproot every religious phrase, every false belief. I only want truth.
I am not afraid. I am strong in You. Teach me the holy fear of God.
I trust You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Next Week: Rooted in Righteousness
Next week, we’ll dig into what it really means to live right—not by rules, but by relationship. Not trying to look clean—but learning to stay rooted in righteousness from the inside out.
Until then, keep growing. 🌱
