There is no zoom prayer room in July, we resume in August.
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 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.
5 “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. 6 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. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:1-8
PRAYER GUIDE
On the last night of his life, in a few short verses, Jesus uses the word remain (or abide) 8 times. The Greek, meno, is a present, continual, plural command. In other words, “keep remaining,” in me.
How does a branch remain in a vine? Plants have vascular systems, not unlike our veins and arteries. Sap flows back and forth between vine and branches, carrying with it nutrients and water. It is this back and forth movement between vine and branches that enables the branch to remain alive. Once the flow stops between vine and branch, the branch withers, dies, and falls off the vine.
Our job, our one job, our first job, our only real job, the job everything else derives from – is to keep the arteries and veins of our souls open to Jesus. To keep talking to and listening to Jesus. To watch out for anything that stops the back and forth relationship of dependence on Jesus. If we do this, Jesus promises, we will bear fruit. We don’t need to try to produce it, it will come naturally as a byproduct of being connected to a lifegiving God. If we do not keep the lines open…we will begin to lose our vitality and wither.
This summer, let’s pray for ourselves and the church, for the lines of communication between us and Jesus to re-open.
PRAYER PROMPTS
- Pray for barriers to be removed…whether those are areas of sin or disobedience or a business of life that has removed space and time to commune with Jesus.
- Pray for new rhythms and ways to abide and commune with Jesus
- Pray that this vital connection with Jesus would take the priority in our lives – especially for any of those in ministry leadership.
- Pray for repentance for operating in the flesh and a renewed conviction to depend on Jesus and walk by the Spirit of God.
In Our Time 