In John 15:5, Jesus declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” Notice the divine order here: He does not command you to produce fruit, to manufacture life, or to prove your worth. Instead, His invitation is singular and simple—abide.

Fruit is never the result of the anxious labour of the branch; it is the effortless outcome of connection. We we strive our fruit becomes bitter and shrivelled. A branch does not strain to force grapes from its wood; it simply remains connected to the vine, and life flows. In the same way, your soul was never designed to thrive on self-effort. Striving apart from Him exhausts the spirit and starves the heart. Anxiety is the symptom of disconnection; peace is the fruit of abiding.

Abiding is simply another way of saying “consistent spiritual practice.”

To abide (meno) is to stay, to remain, to make your dwelling in Him. It is the posture of stillness and trust, of waiting (perimeno) without panic, of resting without fear of lack. The life of the vine surges unseen, nourishing and sustaining. Your task is not to generate but to receive, not to fabricate but to yield.

Today, your only call is this: remain attached to the Vine. Resist the illusion that you must prove yourself by production. Lay down the burden of comparison, the fear of inadequacy, and the weight of performance. Cling instead to Christ, and let His life flow unhindered through you. The fruit will come in season—love, joy, peace, patience—not because you strained, but because you stayed.

PRAYER

Lord, I choose to abide in You today. Let Your life flow through me and produce fruit that lasts. Amen.

“Lord, my job is to abide. Your job is the fruit. You can do your job when I do mine.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION