Lenten Devotion, March 24, 2025

-

Monday, March 18, 2025


Scripture: John 15:1-8

Devotion: "I am the vine, you are the branches." With these simple words, Jesus offers us a profound image of the spiritual life. We don't produce fruit through striving or through our own power—fruit comes naturally when we remain connected to the source of life.

Notice what Jesus emphasizes: "Abide in me as I abide in you." Before productivity, before results, before output—there must be connection. A branch separated from the vine might maintain its appearance for a short time, but eventually, it withers. Our fruitfulness depends entirely on our ongoing relationship with Christ.

How often we get this backward! We focus on the fruit—trying to be more loving, more patient, more generous—without attending to the connection that makes such fruit possible. Today, consider where you've been striving in your own strength. Remember that the most important spiritual practice isn't doing more but abiding more deeply.

Daily Action Steps:

  1. Set a timer for three moments during your day to pause and consciously "reconnect" with Jesus.
  2. Observe a plant or tree and reflect on how it naturally bears fruit without straining.
  3. Identify one thing that's hindering your connection with God and take a step to address it.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being the vine from which I draw life. Forgive me when I try to produce fruit through my own efforts. Teach me the sacred art of abiding in you, trusting that genuine fruitfulness will follow. Amen.

Breath Prayer: (Inhale) I am a branch... (Exhale) You are the vine.

Location: Monroe, OH, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lenten Devotion - March 15, 2025

-
Image
Day 12 -- Saturday, March 15, 2025 Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16 Devotion: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin." These words remind us that Jesus intimately understands our wilderness experiences. The Son of God himself walked through human temptation and struggle. When we feel alone in our wilderness, this truth offers profound comfort. Jesus doesn't observe our struggles from a distance—he knows them from the inside. The wilderness of temptation, isolation, and testing are territories he has personally navigated. Because of this, we can "approach the throne of grace with boldness," confident that we'll find understanding and help. What are you struggling with that you hesitate to bring to God? What weakness makes you feel ashamed or isolated? Today, remember that Jesus has been there. Your wilderness is not unfamiliar territ...
Read more

Lenten Devotion - March 13, 2025

-
Image
  Day 10 -- Thursday, March 13, 2025 Scripture: Exodus 16:1-12 Devotion: Just weeks after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites found themselves complaining in the wilderness. The freedom they had longed for didn't look like they expected. Hungry and uncertain, they even idealized their past slavery: "If only we had died... when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread." How quickly we forget God's faithfulness when facing new challenges! The wilderness has a way of surfacing our deepest fears and insecurities. Yet God responded not with anger but with provision—manna each morning, just enough for the day. The wilderness became a classroom for trust, teaching the Israelites (and us) to rely on God's daily grace. Where are you grumbling today? What "fleshpots of Egypt" tempt you to look backward instead of forward? God's provision rarely comes as a lifetime supply all at once. Instead, like manna, it arrives daily...
Read more

Lenten Devotion - March 21, 2025

-
Image
Friday, March 21 – When Love Requires Boundaries 📖 Scripture: Mark 6:30-32 After a long period of teaching and healing, Jesus tells His disciples to step away and rest. Even the Son of God knew that love must be balanced with renewal. Healthy love includes boundaries. Sometimes, love means stepping back from a harmful situation. It means knowing when to walk away from relationships that drain our emotional and spiritual well-being. Jesus did not try to meet every demand placed on Him—He knew when to rest, when to say no, and when to set limits. Are there places in your life where you need better boundaries? How might loving yourself well enable you to love others more fully? Daily Action Steps: Reflect on a relationship where boundaries are needed. Ask God for wisdom. Identify one way to care for your emotional and spiritual well-being today. Read about Jesus’ own rhythms of rest and consider how to follow His example. Prayer: God of wisdom, teach...
Read more