“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
John 15:5-8

Dear God, I thought of something this morning. Whenever Jesus compared ya to anything it seems like it’s always vegetation. He didn’t say, “You are the Lion and the world is your prey.” Or, “Be like the camel, which can go for days without water.” I suppose he did compare us to sheep, but that’s because they are too dumb to live without a shepherd. Without leadership, they will just stay in one place to eat until the last remnants of the grass are destroyed. They can’t see the consequences of their foolishness. The branches need the vine to give them nourishment. The sheep need the shepherd to point them in the right direction. In none of these illustrations are the examples pertaining to us on the attack. They are attached to you and need you to move them.

When I’m at work, my tendency is to think that I/we have a duty to be moving and growing. Should we add a new program? Should we strike out in this area? The push is coming from an outward sense of duty and not from the connection I have to you through the vine. It’s not your still small voice I’m listening for, but my own desire to be seen as an effective leader by my board and by the community that drives me. Ah. There it is. It’s my ego that drives me.

Father, I’m sorry for my ego. I’m sorry for my insecurity. I know I can be a fool. Guide me. Show me. Help me to hear your still small voice. My commitment to you is to try to make more room in my life to be able to hear you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen