Remain in Me.

Lent Challenge:  Days 6 & 7

Yesterday was a crazy day.  I’m not exactly sure why, but the day seemed to just spiral out of control.  We were hosting 2 young gentlemen from Atlanta Christian College who were attending the National Preaching Summit at church.  They were fun to have here, but it made me feel very old.  And very tired, but that's an entirely separate post...

As my day was spiraling out of control (which really just means not going according to the plan that I had laid out ahead of time), I was reminded of the wonderful devotion I read yesterday morning.  I’ve been reading Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” (which I highly recommend).  The book is a series of short messages written from Jesus’ perspective.  Don’t let the brevity of the entries fool you.  They are packed with profound thoughts.  Here’s the entry that haunted me yesterday:

“Let Me prepare you for the day that stretches out before you.  I know exactly what this day will contain, whereas you have only vague ideas about it.  You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your journey.  You’d feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead.  However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you will encounter today:  Spend quality time with Me.

I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey.  My living Presence is your Companion each step of the way.  Stay in continual communication with Me, whispering My Name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts.  Thus, you can walk through this day with your focus on Me.  My abiding Presence is the best road map available.”  (Jesus Calling, p. 13)


Scripture Verse for the Day(s)
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  John 15:4-8

Prayer for the Day(s)
Jesus,
Why can’t I trust you for what is ahead?  What is it that makes me want to see every step-all the twists and turns?  Help me to learn to trust in you.  Grow my faith.  Show me how to spend more quality time in your Presence.  Wake me up so I am aware of You.  Grow my roots so that I am grafted in You and not myself.  Deepen my roots so that I can bear fruit that points to You.  You are pruning me right now.  Please continue to cut down the ineffective branches that I cling to so tightly.  I want to look like Your disciple—more tomorrow than I do today.  Amen.