Grafted Into the Vine of Life

O Vine of Life, You delivered me from the stronghold of sin and engrafted me into Yourself.  Through You, I am receiving nourishment, refreshing and forgiveness.  As The Vine, in whom I’ve pledged my life, You shade me from the searing heat of temptation.  You’ve brought me back from desolation and given me renewed life.  You’ve delivered me from poverty and brought me into a land of milk and honey.  Though my enemies seek to distract me and dislodge me from my place with You, I am reassured by Your promise that no one can be taken from Your hand.  It is through Your sacrificial offering on Calvary that I’ve been given the opportunity to become engrafted to You.  Through Your love, You’ve restored my relationship with Your Father and brought me the light I need to grow.  Apart from You, I have no future and I’m like a branch stripped from a tree that lies withering on the ground.

Becoming a part of The Vine raises the expectation that I will bear a bounteous harvest of good fruit by carrying out Your requests, following Your lead and sharing Your unconditional love with others.  Through the working of Your righteousness and love, the distress in my life and those of others are buoyed by the hope of better days and better outcomes.  Since You are The One who possesses the spiritual nourishment I need to grow, I am counting on Your providing the Holy Spirit to guide me and energize me in producing the good fruit You require.  The impurities of selfishness, envy, lust and deception must be replaced with selflessness, generosity, pure motives and truth.  I trust in Your love for me and Your desire to act on my behalf.  I need training in endurance so I can grow in character and faith.  I appreciate Your hedge of protection that negates the intrusion of temptations and trials.

I believe the scripture that tells me You are the True Vine and Your Father is the Gardener.  As such, I anticipate that Your Father will prune away my bad motives and inappropriate thoughts/actions in order to promote the production of more fruit.  I believe Your pledge to remain in me, if I remain in You.  I know I cannot produce any good without the good that is in You.  Apart from You, I can do nothing that is positive and long-lasting.  I have learned that as I draw closer to You and Your Word becomes my compass, I can ask whatever I wish and You will not refuse me.  Sharing the Good News, being kind and unselfish and acting lovingly toward others are ways to show the benefits of being engrafted to You.  Remaining in You demands that I proclaim You as my Savior, do what You ask, believe the truths in Your Word and freely give out the love You’ve given to me.  As I incorporate You into my life, I am becoming all the more engrafted into The Vine of Life.  And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray.  AMEN!!

John 15:1-2 I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that bears fruit He prunes so that they can be even more fruitful.