Daily Nurture

I love this time of year and being able to have color on my deck!

I spend a LOT of time out here and though I’m not a great gardener, I love flowers. During this season, I must water these daily, even twice a day on a couple if it’s really hot and dry. If not…they look like this!

You can see what happens if I neglect to nurture these beautiful flowers daily. It also remind me of what happens in my spiritual life if I neglect to nurture it continually.

In John 15 we see the image of being attached to the vine and being severed from the vine.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.” John 15:1-8 (CSB)

When a branch falls from my plant, there are no more flowers (fruit). It dies. When I am not connected to Christ, deepening my walk with Him, seeking greater obedience to what I am learning, I cannot bear the fruit He desires.

So what does continual abiding look like? It’s different for each of us, but it means daily, in whatever way God leads you. For me, it’s each morning on this deck, weather permitting (if not, it may be in my literal prayer closet built into my clothes closet by my thoughtful husband!). Normally, 5 days a week I am doing my chronological reading of the Bible.

I am usually in the middle of another short term Bible study as well. Add to this, prayer for myself and others. Because I am retired, this can be unhurried and I am so grateful. It wasn’t always like this. I had time with the Lord each morning but a it was shorter, prior to my morning commute into downtown Nashville or trip to the airport to fly out of Nashville. It was, for the most part consistent without being legalistic. My survival depended on it, and still does.

I do something different most weekends: studying to teach on Sunday as my focus. I read a devotional morning and evening as well, 7 days a week. But because this is what I do, does not mean this works for you. Ask God to show you what to study, when to study and how to study. The most important thing is the ongoing abiding IN Him! It’s the only way we can grow and flourish, bearing Christlike fruit throughout our lives.

And keep in mind, even outside of your specific time with Christ daily, we also need to continue to “abide” all day long. Once we’ve spent time in the Word, we apply it throughout the day and remember those truths in every situation we face.

Will you take the challenge to pray and ask God what that should look like for you? Don’t be like a severed vine, or like my droopy flowers above…be connected and fruitful whether your are in a wonderful season or a difficult one!

My preference is on the deck in warm weather, but, alas, I live in Tennessee, so we have some colder weather that prevents the outdoor time that I thrive on. I have to adjust to stay connected throughout the winter season to continue to grow. So do you!

God is faithful to show us how to abide, when our heart wants to know, love, and grow deeper in Him.

Banner photo by Jasmina Seidl on Unsplash