The True Vine: Remaining in Jesus
Scripture:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” -John 15:1-4 (NIV)
Observation:
When I was saved, fifteen years ago, the first things I needed to let go of were toxic habits and friendships. Some of the letting go took months, while others took years. Looking back, I now know God was guiding me through it all, giving me the wisdom and discernment needed to cut off every unhealthy branch. Those things I left behind would have only led me further into darkness and destruction. As John 15:6 says, “gather such branches into a pile to be burned.”
Wow, what a picture! This reminds me of a powerful experience I had with some friends; we gathered around a fire pit and wrote down all the lies the enemy had told us about ourselves. We prayed together then cast the papers into the fire. Those lies no longer have a hold on me—just as the scripture says, they are literally ashes now, never to be grappled with again!
As I continue my walk with Jesus, I realize there is always going to be more to prune. The work is never done, and He is never done working in us! It’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits. For me, sleeping in late, missing my morning time with Jesus, is a habit I feel God asking me to change. It might be painful, at first, but I am trusting the Lord to produce a new kind of fruit in me – fruit I never could have known, by doing it my way.
Application:
As we continue our time of prayer and fasting, ask yourself: What are the things causing you to drift or pull away from God. How do they stunt our growth, as the weak branches stunt the healthy ones on a plant? What routines have you developed that don’t bear fruit?
Take a closer look at your daily habits throughout the week; begin to jot down what things tend to pull you away from your time with the Lord. Ask God to help you remove these things; then consider what you need to do differently to put God first in your daily life. Remember, it’s not about our own strength or willpower, but by His Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
Most importantly, always remain connected to Him—the Source of all living things—through reading His Word and prayer. His Word tells us that when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. (James 4:8)
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for Your Son, our True Vine. We know we cannot do anything except through Him. Thank you for always tending to us with such loving care, even when it’s uncomfortable. I pray that You remain in us, and we remain in You all the days of our lives. Lord, we lay our brokenness at Your feet and ask You to restore us to a place where we produce only healthy fruit for Your Kingdom. Hide Your Word within our hearts, and don’t let the enemy uproot it! In every part of our lives, may we always seek to follow the call You’ve placed on our lives, and not our own selfish ambitions. In Jesus name, Amen.