In one of Jesus’s last teachings before His crucifixion, there was a statement He made that caught my attention: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7-8
The word “Abide” in the original language means to depend; depending on God. It also means to rely on and relax in God. He was saying, Depend on me and rest in me! You don’t have to struggle, you don’t have to force things, live worried, pressured, wondering how it’s going to happen… Just abide in me and you will bring forth much fruit in any area of your life!
You would think it would be just the opposite: if you work harder and put in more effort, then you will see the dream, then you will get the promotion, and then the challenges will turn around. No, not if you struggle, you will bear much fruit but if you abide in God you will see an increase, favour and your desires will be granted!
When you abide completely in God, it takes the pressure off you. Instead of focusing on what you can do, you are focused on what God can do. You are depending on God’s goodness, His favour and His power. As long as you are struggling, you are limited to what you can accomplish.
The challenge is that we all face giants that may be too big, where our strength, our effort or our talent, no matter how hard we try will not be enough…That’s why God said in that same John 15:5 “For without me you can do nothing”. You can’t overcome that challenge, the addiction or accomplish your dream just with your willpower or your hard work. You need power from God.
One of the best prayers we can pray every morning is “God, I depend on you today. I’m relying on you, and God, I’m abiding in you. I believe that I will bear much fruit because I’m connected to you…” If you start abiding in God, and not just struggling you are going to see more fruit with less work… You are going to make more progress with less frustration and accomplish more in less time.
Well, I am not saying that we should sit back and do nothing, we have to use our gifts, and be at our best but don’t become dependent on just your ability, your efforts, thinking that you have to make it happen. Do what you can, and then leave it up to God. As long as you abide in God, you are going to bear not a little fruit, not some fruit, but much fruit.
When we talk about bearing fruit, it means bearing fruit in your career, God’s kingdom, meeting the right people for the next phase of your life, your marriage, your relationship, your finances, your health, your spiritual life, and your emotional life. I mean whatever area in your life that needs to improve and gives you the joy and happiness that the word of God talks about are areas you can bear much fruit.
Stop struggling, depending on your efforts, and your ability to meet your desired results, that’s draining. If you start abiding in Him, you will feel that load lift off of you because God has you in the palm of His hand, and He hasn’t let go of you. You may not be connected to Him but He is not disconnected from you. To feel God’s strength and see His favour, you have to stay connected to the vine in your mindset and actions!
Jesus used fruit in His illustration to show us that we are connected to the source. You may have seen fruits hanging on tree branches. The branches are just depending on the vine to produce fruit. They are not struggling to bear fruit, they are not frustrated, thinking “Why am I not growing faster or bearing fruit? How am I going to bear fruit? What if my fruits don’t get ripe”?
I have never walked by and heard a branch complaining before. I have never seen a worried tree branch. They just hang there drawing strength from the vine. They are not stressed because they know that as long as they are connected to the source; the vine, they are going to get everything that they need.
You shouldn’t live with that unrest on the inside, thinking that you are limited. Besides, you are connected to the vine and you can stay in peace. God is bringing the nutrients you need, the right people, the right and new opportunities, the healing, the favour… Now do your part; quit worrying and start abiding completely in God.
At the appointed time your fruits will ripen, your fruits are going to go from green to yellow so to speak. You are going to see doors open, the medical report turn around, and the dream will come to pass. Live from a place of peace and a place of rest. When you are tempted to worry, trying to force things to happen, just say “No, thanks, I’m connected to the vine.
IT DOESN’T MEAN TO DO NOTHING!
I’m not saying sit back and do nothing. However, you have to be open to the fact that if it doesn’t happen the way you thought, then God has something better coming. That closed door is God protecting you but sometimes we get impatient. We think we are missing out, we are falling behind but I have learned that what belongs to you is not going to go to anyone else.
Whatever has your name on it will come to you. Instead of trying to force things – relax, and stay in peace. God is ordering your steps, He has already lined up what you need to fulfil your destiny. If it hasn’t happened yet, it wasn’t the right time. If the door is closed, something better is coming.
This is where Abraham and Sarah missed it. God gave them the promise that they would have a child, but instead of depending on God, trusting God’s timing, they were impatient. Nothing was happening, they got frustrated and decided to help God out. Sarah told Abraham to sleep with her maid. They had a son that they named Ishmael but He wasn’t the promised child.
The birth of Ishmael caused all kinds of strife and contention but it wasn’t Ishmael’s fault… It’s much better to wait for the right thing than to have to deal with Ishmael’s things that came through our efforts. That is what causes us heartache and pain. If your promise is not happening on your timetable, trust that God knows what He is doing. He knows what is best.
Instead of forcing things like they did, “I’m going to have this baby, I’m going to make it happen. I’m going to marry this person even though I don’t have peace. I’m going to buy this house even though it’s not what I want”. No, be patient. Don’t settle for second best. Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Keep abiding in God and keep doing the right thing, your time is coming and something better is coming!
The truth is that we have all probably given birth to an Ishmael before; I mean forced some things to happen in one way or the other! However, the goodness of God didn’t allow the promise to stop. 20 years after God gave Abraham the promise, this was after they had Ishmael, after they had made mistakes, Sarah got pregnant at 90 years old and gave birth to Isaac, the promised child. (Genesis 21:1-3)
It may take longer than you thought but don’t water down your dreams, don’t settle for less than what you know God put in your heart. You don’t have to make it happen only with your strength. Yes, use your gifts, and do what you can, but don’t force things. Keep depending completely on God and you will carry your Isaac on your arm. Not far from now, you are going to see God show up miraculously in your life.
In the meantime, relax and enjoy where you are while you are waiting for things to change. The way to pass the test is not to be frustrated by what hasn’t happened, not to be upset because your friend got married and you haven’t met anyone. Just keep doing the right things and staying close to God. Connected to the vine. That’s where your strength is coming from. That’s where your favour, your blessing and your healing are.
Every morning admit your dependence on God. He is saying to you what He said to His people thousand years ago, “Stop the striving and stop the struggling. Be still and you will know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) If you make this decision to abide completely in God, I decree and declare that you are not only going to enjoy life more but you are going to bear much fruit and see your desired result come to pass in Jesus name.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’
