I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in Him, He it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
How healthy would a branch be that isn’t deeply and solidly connected to the vine? How much healthy fruit could that branch produce? What would the master gardener usually do with a branch like that? How well are you connected to Jesus throughout your day? Can you hear or sense His Presence directing you, comforting you, and instructing you throughout your days? How would you rate the depth of your spiritual life and relationship with the Holy Spirit? Is it deep and abiding? Is the Holy Spirit bringing up lessons and scripture for you to ponder and consider?
This isn’t a religious practice. This is a deep abiding friendship and relationship that is felt and experienced from the moment you wake up till you lay your head down to sleep, and then even in your dreams the lessons continue. For people like this… a religious institutional Sunday morning service with its programmed very tightly controlled timeframe and order is the place where they are often least comfortable, as the Holy Spirit is also teaching and showing them things they are not allowed to express as the service is not designed to be ‘family’ discussion time. So they seek out one on one discussions with those who they know are also deeply seeking Jesus every day. They look for small groups that love questions and talking about what the Holy Spirit is teaching them personally.
Do you purposely put yourself into a space where you are seeking and encountering Jesus daily? Where you set yourself in a ‘prayer’ mode just to listen to Him, instead of listening to your own voice and thoughts? As one becomes deeply connected to Him prayer becomes about ‘worshipping Him’ and listening to Him – more than giving Him a list of ‘wants’ and desires. Don’t we know that God knows BEFORE we ask Him?
Are you asking the Holy Spirit who you are to be talking to each day? Are you asking Him to show you what or who are your divine appointments for the day? Are you so connected to the vine you are automatically working on … producing fruit? What fruit exactly are you producing and why?
Are you seeking out people who you can discuss current spiritual matters and questions? Do you know people who won’t be put off and dismissive to you by your weird spiritual questions or experiences? Do you know people who you can tell are deeply connected to Jesus? Not by their words or outward appearance but by their character and demeanor. They never are seeking a spotlight or looking to perform for an audience. They never really want a ‘platform’. They exude a quiet confident peaceful presence about them.
How deep is your connection to the Vine?