Day four focuses on the need to be connected to the ultimate power source. What a timely chapter based on the storms of the last month or so, and particularly of the last week. A number of you have experienced the pain and frustration of being disconnected from power. We are really dependent upon electricity today. Certainly our business doesn’t happen without it. We have an unlimited source of power available to us – God’s power. But how often do you make the mistake I do – to ignore God’s power and try to do it all with willpower. Just grit our teeth and work harder and longer and rely on self rather than get plugged into the real source of power – our heavenly Father. He is the only real source of spiritual energy. He alone has the ability to give us the strength we need for spirit, body and soul. So why do we want to try it on our own rather than just plug in.
That principle is never more true than when we look at John 15 and the principle of bearing fruit. It doesn’t happen without God. It never happens without God. Scripture is very clear on that. We are branches and apart from the vine we “can do nothing”. That is pretty tough to swallow but it is absolutely true. We can try hard, we can have the right motives, we can even do the right things, but “apart from Jesus we can do NOTHING” when it comes to bearing fruit. Part of the fruit bearing process means pruning. I hate signing up for that but it happens over and over in my life. God has to clean things up and clear things out so I can really bear fruit. It isn’t fun, but it is essential. Is He pruning you? It really is a good sign when it happens because it means God is continuing to invest in and train us up. But as we go through that process, it is critical that we stay plugged in to the Father. We need a constant connection. That doesn’t mean we have to sit and pray all day. It does mean we need to be in communication with Him all day though. We need to just talk with Him and invite Him into everything we are doing every moment. He does care. He does listen. And it will change how we live when we do that. We all need to work on the connection with the power source. It is the biggest thing we can do to change our lives. Once there, it will help us make the changes we need to in how we use our time and live life to the fullest.
Posted by asorensen 
