Ye Are The Branches

Good morning dear sisters… I’ve heard from some of you how the devotionals are hitting home. And some of you have asked for prayer. It is a joy to pray for you, because we get to be a part of what God is doing, and it brings us so much joy to see how tenderly He cares for us and how He is at work in our body of believers here.
 
Did you know we have an Intercession Team? They are at the ready to pray for you. If you would like prayer, please email me at nicolechapingiven@gmail.com
Let me know two things:
Would you like just me to pray or may I pass your request along to the Intercessors?
Would you like to remain anonymous?
I count it a privilege to pray for you, as does each member of our Intercessory Prayer Team.
 
The reading today is entitled Ye the Branches and is from John 15:5.
 
I am the Vine, Ye are the branches. – John 15:5
 
Here are some highlights:
The relationship He seeks to establish is an intensely personal one: it all hinges on the two little words I and You.//Let us present ourselves before the Lord, until He speak to each of un is power, and our whole soul feels it: “I am the Vine; you are the branch.” Dear disciple of Jesus, however young or feeble, hear the voice. “You are the branch.” You must be nothing less. // Yes, by His grace I will be nothing less than a branch, and all He means it to be, that through me, He may bring forth His fruit.”
 
“You are the branch.” You need be nothing more. You need not for one single moment of the day take upon you the responsibility of the Vine. You need not leave the place of entire dependence and unbounded confidence. You need, least of all, to be anxious as to how you are to understand the mystery, or fulfill its conditions, or work out its blessed aim. //You need be nothing more than a branch. Only be a branch! Let that be your watchword….
 
Dear soul, the character of a branch, its strength, and the fruit it bears, depend entirely upon the Vine. And your life as a branch depends entirely upon your apprehension of what our Lord Jesus is. Therefore never separate the two words: “I the Vine – you the branch.” Your life and strength and fruit depend upon what your Lord Jesus is! Therefore worship and trust Him; let Him be your one desire and the one occupation of your heart.
 
This word, too Lord! O speak it in power unto my soul. Let not the branch of the earthly vine put me to shame, but as it only lives to bear the fruit of the vine, may my life on earth have no wish or aim, but to let Thee bring forth fruit through me.
 
Prayer for us:
Abba, there are many things that vie for our attention today. Our to-do list grows, and as it does, so does our sense of failure, of frustration. There are things we know we ought to do, like connect with others, like ask someone for forgiveness, like be still and just be with you… but we don’t, and the weight of that becomes burdensome. There are things we ought not to do, like go to our chosen idols to fill us… idols like FaceBook, or food, or approval. But we have such voids, and these things seem so readily accessible. Oh God, thank You that You alone are the Vine, and all You ask is for us to be the branch. O teach us how to rest and trust…. How to trust that as we rest, as we keep our eyes fixed on You, as we worship You and trust You and walk out that trust by faith in Your promises, as our one desire and the one occupation of our heart is You…. You will be all our heart desires, all we need. And then what we do will flow out of that rest. We are in such need of rest Abba…we don’t know how to keep our gaze steady on You, and in our heart of hearts, are not sure You satisfy as much as our chosen idol. O teach us to taste and see how GOOD You are Father! How You do satisfy, how Your beauty and glory and meditating on Your promises bring us the joy our hearts long for and seek, even in the midst of our circumstances. Lift our chins once again to look You full in the face. Let us believe You today, that You give us the will and power to obey, and as we obey, as we are still and seek Your face, You will meet us there, because You have promised. And let all we do today, be done through us, by Your Vine, by Your Spirit of Life in and through us, and bear the fruit that You will O God. For Your glory and our joy, in Jesus’ Name, amen.