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:
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:
- Ask the Lord how He wants to take you “deeper” in this final week of the 21 Days of Prayer.
- 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.
- 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!
Posted in 21 Days Jan 2021
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Day 1: The Fruit of the SpiritDay 2: What It Is NotDay 3: The Trinity - JesusDay 4: The Trinity - FatherDay 5: The Trinity - The Holy SpiritDay 6: Assumptions and ExcusesDay 7: Sunday SermonDay 8: The GardenerDay 9: Bearing FruitDay 10: Submitting to the ProcessDay 11: Abide in His LoveDay 12: Loving Each OtherDay 13: Vine and the BranchesDay 14: Grace and Truth Sermon DevotionalDay 15: When I Don't See JesusDay 16: When Pain Leads to JoyDay 17: It's All About Who You KnowDay 18: Take HeartDay 19: Jesus’ Priestly PrayerDay 20: Jesus' Priestly PrayerDay 21: Unity as One
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Day 1 God is HolyDay 2 God is UnchangingDay 3 God is LoveDay 4 God is TranscendentDay 5 God is OmnipotentDay 6 God is GoodDay 7 God is ImmanentDay 8 God is OmnipresentDay 9 God is our IntercessorDay 10 God is our CreatorDay 11 God is OmniscientDay 12 God is our Good ShepherdDay 13 God is FaithfulDay 14 God is our FriendDay 15 God is the Lord of the FeastDay 16 God is GenerousDay 17 God is Three in One (the Trinity)Day 18 God is JustDay 19 God is CompassionateDay 20 God is Lord of the HarvestDay 21 God is Coming King
March
Day 1: The Priestly BlessingDay 2: LeadershipDay 3: The Upper RoomDay 4: He knowsDay 5: Be StillDay 6: God's Presence In The Midst of TrialsDay 7: God Is In ControlDay 8: His WhisperDay 9: Our FatherDay 10: Wrestling with GodDay 11: God Is My ShieldDay 12: In His Presence Is JoyDay 13: The God of All ComfortDay 14: Sermon Reflections & ApplicationDay 15: Watch the WordDay 16: God is My Portion
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