Women’s Connect July Devotional
Dear sister,
Enjoy this devotional, written by Shana Wilson. May you be blessed as you experience the joy of the Lord, overflowing in your heart today! Be blessed by His presence with you. Thank you, Shana, for sharing this encouragement with us!
We pray this finds you well, enjoying the summer with family and friends. We pray your heart is full of gratitude, hope and joy. We pray this finds you rested and refreshed. We pray you have had some sweet family or friend time. Some of you might be thoroughly enjoying the warm sunshine, walks in the park, enjoying the beauty of summer flowers, bbq, ice cream treats, fireflies, iced tea and watermelon. I love the summer time foods, the weather and the freedom that summer brings. I also know for some of you, summer is more chaotic with kids at home, busy schedules, and some might not like the hot temperature. You are not alone.
Wherever you are at today, I pray you will be filled by God’s Word within and be encouraged today! I’d like to take just a few moments of reflection and pause to your day to take a look at a passage we all know and have heard over the years. In John 15 there are a few verses I’d like to highlight. I pray God uses them to encourage you as you take some time to quiet your heart to receive His words.
Jesus states in John 15 the following:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” I like how Jesus uses the word “true” when describing the vine. Am I looking to Jesus as the source and giver of life today as He is the One who brings nourishment versus anything else? What might I look to other than Jesus, His words, faithfulness and presence? Does not the vine supply the nourishment needed in order for the branches to produce fruit?
Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” A few definitions describing abide are: remain, dwell, keep to, follow. Do I look at the life of Jesus and try to model my life after his – taking a look at Jesus’ example in how He was the giver of sacrificial love, how He was servant hearted, the giver of grace, and how Jesus modeled time alone with his Father in prayer? Is my dependence on Jesus, the giver of life or do I depend too much on myself?
Jesus states, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” Is the fruit Jesus talking about the fruit of the Spirit that is listed in Galatians 5:22-23…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control? If so, does my life consists of these things or from a different angle, do others see this fruit in my life? If the answer is maybe or no, how can I cultivate this fruit? Jesus mentions the word abide…how can I remain in Jesus each day? You’ve heard the saying, “Water the things you want to see grow”. Bring nourishment to yourself through time reading Jesus’ words which bring life, restore, heal and refresh. Is this what Jesus is referring to when he talks about abiding in him?
Jesus states, “by this my Father is glorified”. WOW! When our lives are bearing His fruit, God, the Creator of the Universe is glorified AND this shows that we are his disciples. Read that again…
Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” Rest in this truth for just a bit…YOU ARE LOVED as the Father loved his Son, so the Son has loved us. Remain, recognize, receive and thank Him for this love. A love that knows no bounds and that nothing can separate us from. See Romans 8:38.
Finally, the last few verses I’d like to highlight…
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Going back to where we started…how are you today? What would be the adjective you would use to describe your current state of mind? Wait a minute, does Jesus not say in the above that “these things I have spoken to you that His joy may be in you”? Let’s let Jesus be the vine we remain in, depend on. Does it not say that His joy may be in us and this joy will be full? Is this verse only for those who are enjoying the watermelon and sunshine? Nope, I don’t think so. Jesus alone is the giver of life and the giver of perfect love that fills and wells up cultivating a heart of gratitude and praise.
May our lives be marked by HIS fruit so that others may see Him and discover that He is good and full of grace, love, and truth.
And finally, Jesus states this command, “that we love one another”. Love is the greatest weapon and covers over a multitude of sins.
Where is it today that God wants you or who He wants you to love? For when we love, He is glorified and praised and in turn we are filled with more of who He is, for God is love. It is His love and by His love that we love one another. We are vessels of His love to others.
Check out Ephesians 3:17-19 sometime.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
“Thank you God that you give us your words that speak to our hearts and bring us true life.”
Enjoy today! 🍉 ☀️
~The verses highlighted are John 15:1, 4, 8-9, 11-12, 17