access
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me and I in you”
John 15: 1-4 ESV
We abide, He produces.
Lately, I’ve been craving the fruits of the spirit; a bowl of their freshness in the morning or blended into a superfood smoothie I could drink throughout the day to replace my flesh-first thoughts, behaviors, and responses to the things of this world. Anxiety seems to be swirling, doubt is nudging its way in, fear is speaking louder in my mind, and where I’m more often described as a peaceful presence with a gentle spirit, I’ve been the opposite of “slow to anger and abounding in love” (Psalm 86:15) in my rather snappy responses. Am I alone in this?
I admit my prayer time and moments of intentionally tapping into the presence of God have lost their place as most important in my daily routines and when I find myself here, I’m begging God to grant me fruits of the spirit; “Lord, please give me your peace, joy, kindness, gentleness, self-control...”
And while He will answer my prayers here, my attention has been directed to a greater truth about my inheritance when it comes to accessing and living with the fruits of His spirit. In John 15:5, Jesus tells us: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” We produce fruits of the spirit simply as a byproduct of abiding in Him. Not because we strive, plead, or beg for more fruit, but because it is our rightful reaping to have access to the fruits of the spirit because of our life lived on the vine. We abide, He produces. A simple and beautiful truth.
I love looking at the passion translation of Galatians 5 where scripture states, “But the fruit you produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions.” Simply put again, Holy Spirit within us is what produces fruit. More than that, we know that the fruits of the spirit in us will be exactly what we need for that moment and more. Where I pray for “enough peace to just calm this storm in front of me,” or “Lord, give me joy in this one moment,” Galatians reads the fruits of the spirit are, “joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, a life full of virtue, and faith that prevails.” When we abide with Him, our true source of nourishment, He will give us the portion we need and then some. We abide, He produces.
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additional reading:
John 15: 5 / Galatians 5:22 / John 14:25-27
reflect:
Where have you not been tapping into the fruits of the spirit that are freely given to you? Do you need to first set time to intentionally abide with Him? In your time with the Lord, can you imagine these fruits of the spirit being poured over you or presented to you on the vine? Thank Him for His good & nourishing gifts!
centering prayer:
LORD, I want to abide with you. I want to live in such close communion with you that your characteristics are produced as living fruit in me. Meet me in my quiet time, in the mundane, and in the business of each day, Lord, so that I can learn to intentionally abide with you and be a bearer of your fruit. amen.
