~ Are You Abiding? ~ Sharon Simms ~ Devotional ~ John 15:5

Are you Abiding?

a Devotional from Sharon Simms

     A couple of weeks ago I was out cleaning my yard after an overnight storm with heavy rain and strong winds. branches from Pecan and Oak trees were strewn across the yard and street. Some were broken into pieces. As I picked up the smaller green branches and looked at the larger branches I reflected on the scripture passage above.

     Before the storm, these branches were attached to their life source … the tree. The tree is deeply rooted in the ground and receives water and nutrients to grow the branches and produce the fruit. As long as the branches stay attached to the tree, they produce more and more good fruit. Jesus is our true vine … our tree. We are the branches that must stay attached to Him through prayer, studying the word, listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit within us; so we too can continue to produce more fruit. Fruit of witnessing to others the good news of the gospel and living Holy lives. Yes, storms will come. We will be shaken; but we must hang on to our power source, our strength, our rock and refuge, our salvation. So …

Are you Abiding today?

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you that no matter what storms come our way we can abide in your presence. You have promised to be our shelter, our refuge. May We be fruitful and faithful witnesses of who you are. In Jesus name, Amen