“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.” (John 15:7-11 AMP)
REFLECTION
Once, on my way home from church, I received an invitation to a Bible study which was all about being deeply rooted in Christ and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. My heart leapt in hope as I was reminded of what is possible to experience in Christ:
“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)
I became aware that due to my long history with performance orientation, I may find myself striving to earn God’s favour / love in my quest to obey His word to renew my mind with His truth. But God, my loving Maker, knows me better than I know myself, and I choose to trust that as I set my heart and focus on knowing Him in a deeper way and seeking to be obedient to Him, by committing to meditate on His Word, every day, that He will course correct me if needed, for I trust that He knows that I truly desire His will to be done in and though me, as I move forward in faith, hope and His unfailing love. Every breath I take is a constant reminder of His grace. And I trust that He knows what I need, when and why…and that His grace is indeed sufficient for me, as He promises in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
PRAYER POEM: Holy
Lord, only You can make me truly holy …so please help me to deeply abide in You; every breath, every step in sync with You into all that is eternally true.
