August 16, 2012 - Where Is MY Strength?

Good morning and I pray you are excited for this new day. Stop and ask God for HIS WISDOM for you today. He is always ready to speak and direct, but are we asking? John 15:5 paints a beautiful picture of our dependance on Jesus. He clearly teaches us that he is the vine and God is the gardener. I have done the "gardener" thing this summer with little luck, but great insight. The scripture teaches that we should REMAIN in the vine (Jesus) and the vine in us in order to produce much fruit. Sometimes we see that and think natural fruit. I want to point us to the spiritual implications. When we are securely planted in Jesus, that means we are tapped into who Jesus is IN US. Having Jesus' power in us yields GREAT results. I am convinced that sometimes looking at a life-long journey of "denial" (foods we lust over, portions beyond the boundaries, deletion of mostly processed foods, etc, whatever denail looks like for you) - yields a deep sigh in our hearts. From us can often flow, "I just can't do this. Why can't I enjoy the foods and pleasures that others do?" As we entertain these thoughts, we are feeding the negative side of denial without boosting the positive side. Then, over a period of time we become weak. John 15:5 reminds us that if we remain in Jesus and he in us, that we will produce much fruit. Not natural fruit - but in him there is PEACE, STRENGTH, HOPE. As we look forward to the years ahead of us, we can easily be trapped if we don't realize that our strength for success comes from sticking with the truth - JESUS. AND how about this - Jesus NEVER focused on the negative but took situations that appeared to be desperate and brought life to them. He was THE MASTER of prayer and speaking the word (Truth). He knew where his strength came - from his Father in Heaven. The bottom end of verse 15 says, "apart from me, you can do nothing." That is a powerful statement that we should have imPLANTed deep within. God has a plan for our lives, but so does Satan. God plans to do good by us and not harm us, while Satan plans to kill, steal, and destroy. God has plenty of strength to keep us to His plan and wants to give us direction for every issue in our life that wants to rob from us! Satan is constantly and strategically setting the next death trap. God has the answer to Satan's battle plan. AMEN! This morning let's ask God for his strength for TODAY and not worry about tomorrow - tomorrow has it's own issues. Let's make this day count. Ask for strength and help and remember the words of Jesus, "apart from me you can do nothing." That's a promise. PK