By Gracie DarDar

Scripture Text: 

5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

Devotional:

If you reflect, what have your prayers been looking like lately? We know we can always run to God for any need, big or small, but are your needs the only thing that is holding your relationship with Him together? 

Is the relationship you have with God built to last? Our relationship with the Lord should not be based on how much we can get out of Him. If that is the only reason why you pray, then what will you think if your prayers go unanswered? If you have a real meaningful relationship with Him, your desires and aspirations will start to line up with his, you’ll start to start to understand why he closed certain doors for you and opened others, you’ll start to bear fruit and gain enlightening perspectives. The closer you are to the Lord, the more content you’ll become no matter what your circumstances are. 

The world is windy, pushing us in different directions to steer us off course and distract us from God. If we are not rooted in him or remain in him then “you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (John 15:6).  

Prioritize your relationship with the Lord. You can get to know him by reading his word, reflecting on it, then having a conversation with the Lord about it. Let him speak to you in other ways other than answering your prayers. 

Response/Prayer: 

Lord, thank you for being a selfless God. Please show me your desires for our relationship and help me prioritize getting to know you more. Help me be a better daughter/son to you. Thank you for all you have done for me already and what you’ll continue to do in the future. Amen.