"Once we clearly acknowledge the soul, we can learn to hear it's cries. - Dallas Willard, Renovation Of The Heart."

It takes courage to pursue our dreams. It takes time and patience to unearth buried treasure. But I believe with all my heart that we must do both.

9.30.2009

Yielding to the Vinedresser

This devotional was written by Sylvia Gunter. I receive a weekly devotional from "The Father's Business, you can sign up for them here.


Fruitfulness

Listen to God's purposed fruitfulness for you in John 15:16. "You did not choose me, but I choose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last."

Beloved one, your Father chose you and appointed you to bear the fruit of the nature of his Son within you. The more you abide in him, the more fruit you will bear. His Spirit is working in you his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Do not be discouraged when you feel that the fruit of your life is barrenness or ugliness. Jesus is the seed of God planted within you. He prunes, feeds, and nurtures you to your full potential of the beautiful fruit of the Spirit and all the full qualities of Jesus in you. You do not produce this fruit alone; he does. Rest in his nature and his power to live through you. He is the Fruit of the Spirit. Every good and perfect fruit is him living his life in you.

Receive this truth in 2 Peter 1:3-4. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

You already have within you everything you need to bear the fruit that remains. In him you can choose to step into those inner qualities commanded in 2 Peter 1:5-7. "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." All these are spirit qualities that the Spirit of Christ Jesus works in you with your obedience and active participation. And you have God's promise that you are blessed if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, because they will keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
(1 Peter 1:8)

Be blessed as you let your Vinedresser take you through the process to be fruitful. God is tender to give the right amount of sun and rain for the branch that you are. He must fertilize, tend the soil, and prune you for maximum fruitfulness. Be blessed with fruitfulness in his determined and appointed place and time for you. Be blessed in your unique identity, legitimacy, authority, anointing, and birthright in the Spirit of liberty, for with him there is full freedom and fruitfulness. "The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth"(Eph 5:9) That's the harvest of the nature of Jesus in you.

Paul poured out his heart for his friends in prayer in Philippians 1:11 that they would bear the fruit of their salvation. That's what the fruit of the Spirit is. Hear him praying this for you. "[I pray that you will be] filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." He prays again in Colossians 1:10. "[I pray that you will] lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Receive this promise in Psalm 92:12-15. "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, 'The LORD is upright; he is my Rock.' "

Be blessed in the Lord,
in whom you flourish and bear fruit even to old age
(Ps 92:12)


As I was meditating on this, I realized yet again, that it is ALL God. He chose me. He gives me all I need to accomplish what He has called me to do, how He has called me to live. He even does the work in me that is needed to change me. I cannot even take credit for that. Yes, I need to be willing, to participate, but the actual heart change comes from God.


Here's my constant struggle. I fight it, I fight Him! I do not like the process, it is painful. But think about a vineyard that is left to it's own. The jumble of branches, weeds, that grow all around and below the vine. There may be a hoard of showy leaves, but there is not much fruit!! The branches must be pruned, it must be fertilized, the soil must be tended for it to flourish.


I want to flourish.

11 comments:

Jane Farr said...

Great post Mary!! I just did a calligraphy piece of John 15:4 for someone yesterday. I am always amazed at how God networks this way. :-)

Mollye said...

Hi Mary, I'm glad to read your post today as I miss you on the days you don't post! I guess we do these things due to our inate stubborn natures and when we just stop fighting and let Him do his work and guide us along it is amazing how much smoother our lives are isn't it. Hugs my friend, Mollye

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Hi Mary, I fight too. Too much. But thankfully He never gives up on us. Thanks for this. Sarah

BALLET NEWS said...

Hi Mary, such a great post - thank you so much ! I hope you have a super fab weekend

Unknown said...

I have not been fighting God's will in me as much as I used to.. Thinking that we know what's best is gone for I know if I yeild to God's desire for me he will bring me through whatever I'm dealing with...as we give it all to God we know in our hearts things will turn out ok even if it'd difficult at the time...Trust, Faith and by HIS grace we are being molded into what He wants us to be. I love My Father's Business too..
Love you sweet sister!!!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

thanks for your support and encouraging words Mary and hey you have a beautiful smile. You really shine. Sarah

Sandra Hall said...

Thoughtful stuff. My baptism verse was John 15v16 so I read it often. Thanks for sharing this article and making it fresh again.
x

Martha Lever said...

Hey Mar! Love this post. I so love this verse and oh how I want to product fruit---that lasts!

I love your two journal pages. The mask one should be a book cover for someone writing a book about the masks we wear--- and,yes, we do don't we?

I think my show last until January.
oxox

Martha Lever said...

Thanks, Mar! I'll take the rainbow!!!

laurel said...

Great scriptures Mary. Things we can't be reminded of too often. Thanks for sharing them.

Dena E's Blog said...

It is All God and isn't He AMAZING???!!!
We are very truly richly Blessed!!!
Hugs Dena