Remain in Me
Scripture Reading — John 15:1-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
How do we “remain” in Jesus?
I think it has a lot to do with prayer. I grew up in the church, and I remember that when I was young, prayer always seemed boring. We clasped our hands, closed our eyes, and bowed our heads as the pastor prayed for what seemed a long, long time. But as I grew older and Jesus became more real to me, my prayer life started to change.
There’s nothing wrong with the posture of folding your hands and closing your eyes—I still sometimes take that posture to concentrate. But as I grew in faith, prayer became much more about spending time with God. I not only learned to praise God and lift up my requests to him; I also learned to spend time reading the Bible and listening for what the Spirit had to say.
I’ve found that when I make sure to spend time with Jesus in prayer, I’m a much more patient person—even in the midst of life’s challenges. On days when there is too much to do, I’m more likely to be kinder and slower in my responses to family and friends. I’m also more likely to take time for a conversation with a neighbor who passes by. And I’m more likely to look for and respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
Lord, thank you that we’re able to spend time in your presence through prayer. Help us to be intentional about spending time with you so that your love and grace can transform us to become more like you. Amen.
About the author — Kevin DeRaaf
Kevin DeRaaf is the director of Resonate Global Mission, the Christian Reformed mission agency working in more than 40 countries around the world. With a focus on encouraging others to join in God’s mission where they are, Kevin believes that God’s purpose for the local church is to shine as a community of love and grace, showing in tangible ways that Jesus is the hope of the world. He and his wife, Jacquie, have three children and four grandchildren and live in Burlington, Ontario.
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