Day 13: Vine and the Branches

 John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide (last), so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

This week we have been focusing on Jesus’ words concerning the vine and the branches from John 15. Jesus tends to say similar things over and over again concerning what it means to be a part of Him as the Vine. Perhaps His words might come off as frustratingly redundant and repetitive. Perhaps you have said something along these lines to yourself -- “I’ve heard this before, Jesus; have you got anything new?” or “how many times do I have to hear about fruit, vines, and abiding?”  

Well if you’ve said that either out loud to yourself or in the internal recesses of your heart, you might need to keep hearing it. Why? Because you were designed for effective prayers (as it says in John 15:16). God wants to give you the desires of your heart when they come from Him.

If your prayers for either yourself and others are NOT being effective in bringing God’s will/Kingdom, then perhaps you need to ask yourself and the Lord this (maybe) uncomfortable and scary question: “are my thoughts, actions, and heart connected to You (or God) as the Vine”? “Am I in-tune with His heart for myself and others?" It might also be that His delayed answers (to your prayers) may be the tool He needs to take you deeper by exposing the places of undealt with frustration, brokenness, rebellion, pain, or anger that still needs His gardener’s touch in order to prepare you for the fruition of that prayer.  

Friends, as we delve into our final week of the 21 Days of Prayer, allow the Lord to continue to speak to you concerning your relationship with Him. This exercise is not the same as self-introspection or self-nitpicking. Asking Jesus to speak into your life is something we need to do daily so that we are able to pray prayers that bring Heaven to earth in your life and the world around you!

Prayer Prompts:

1. Ask the Lord how He wants to take you “deeper” in this final week of the 21 Days of Prayer. 
2. When you read this devotional, what feelings or thoughts does this “drudge up”? If you connect with this devotion, note why you do. If you disagree or you’re frustrated with this devotional, give yourself the space to be honest about it and note why. Don’t edit yourself; invite God into the either pleasant or not so pleasant thoughts and feelings, and give Him space to speak to you about it. 
3. Reflect and report how God has been meeting you. Thank Him (if you’re ready) for the ways He has been moving. Then invite the Lord to continue to meet you in this next week in whatever ways He wants to- even if it looks different than what He has been doing so far!