Resting in Christ

Does the branch have to work hard to remain connected to the vine? Does it have to labor intensely to have the life from the vine flow into it? The answer, of course, is no. The branch just needs to be itself and remain where it is, and it will bear fruit naturally because that’s what it was designed to do. It is the work of the vine to supply the life to the branch and the branch’s work to stay connected to the vine. The fruit will grow naturally.

Prayer flows naturally from believers who rest on the facts of redemption. The first fact of our redemption is the presence of the risen Christ living within us. Prayer becomes a flowing river from the believer who is anchored in continual fellowship with God. Just as the fruit comes naturally out of the branch, so will effective prayer flow naturally out of you because of your connection to Christ.

You will often not even be conscious of any effort of your own when you focus on the fact that Christ is supporting you as the vine supports the branch. In the verses that follow, Jesus goes on to explain how naturally the answers to prayer will flow to anyone who remains in a lifestyle of continual fellowship with Him.

So stay connected, let God do the work, trust in Him to support you, be yourself, and Be Encouraged!