Why We Must Abide in Christ - Your Nightly Prayer - June 6th

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Your Nightly Prayer

Why We Must Abide in Christ
by Robert Hampshire

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"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 (ESV)

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Since I started driving, I have ran out of gas more times than I'd like to admit. Sometimes it was because I wasn't paying attention to the fuel gauge and other times I was just trying to run my car as far as I could before stopping. I learned a valuable lesson during these times: a car cannot run unless it has fuel.

I learned this important lesson about my physical body as well as a few years ago. I went with some friends to run an obstacle course race that was about 10 miles long. About 4 miles in, I collapsed to the ground and realized that my unhealthy diet and consumption of coffee more than water in a normal day was not sufficient to give me the strength or hydration I needed to push my body in the way that I needed.

In John 15, Jesus compares himself to a vine and us (his followers and children) to the branches on that vine. His point could not have been any clearer - the branches must be connected to the vine if they are going to live. Without the life-giving nutrients provided by the vine, the branches will wither up and die in the sun if they are cut or broken off. So when Jesus says that apart from him we can do "nothing," he really means it! However, Jesus also gives us in this passage a wonderful promise that when we are connected and "abiding" in him, we can "bear much fruit."

God wants us to have a fruitful, lively spiritual life. But if we are not daily abiding in the Holy Spirit, we will burn out, wither up, collapse on the ground, and be good for nothing.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for caring so much about us that you do not want us to just get through life, but you want us to live abundantly. Thank you for making a way for us to live life to the fullest. We pray that you will show us how we can more fully abide in your presence and receive the life-giving fuel that we need to do what you have called us to do. And thank you for Jesus, who set the example for us of the life that you have made possible for us to live. In Jesus' name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Think about a time that you were struggling to just get through life, and thank God for pulling you through that time.

2. Imagine how much more abundantly you could live if you were spiritually connected to God in the way that he wants. Ask God to reveal to you what areas you are holding from connecting with him.

3. Picture yourself as a branch, alongside countless other branches, connected to the vine of Jesus Christ. Consider what that means and what Jesus is giving you through your abiding in him to live the life you are called to live.

Robert Hampshire is a pastor, teacher, writer, and leader. He has been married to Rebecca since 2008 and has four children: Brooklyn, Bryson, Abram, and Aubrey. Robert attended North Greenville University in South Carolina for his undergraduate and Liberty University in Virginia for his Masters. He has served as a worship pastor, youth pastor, family pastor, church planter, and Pastor of Worship and Discipleship. He now serves at Calvary Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina. He furthers his ministry through his blog site, Faithful Thinking, and YouTube channel. His life goal is to serve God and His Church by reaching the lost with the gospel, making devoted disciples, equipping and empowering others to go further in their faith and calling, and leading a culture of multiplication for the glory of God. Find out more about him here.