Dependence on the Lord

This morning a good friend texted me this passage:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5)

I recently tripped over a dog gate while holding my 2 month old. It was a horrific experience, and I can honestly say it was the worst day of my life. The fall left me with a hurt elbow, and initially I had to wear a cast. The cast caused my elbow to be stuck at nearly a 90-degree angle, and I was unable to straighten or bend it at all. It ended up being kind of funny once I got past the initial shock because I couldn’t even pick up a glass of water sitting on the table next to me. My husband had to help me with everything — picking up my glass of water, changing our baby’s diapers, and even putting my hair in a ponytail. Needless to say, it was an interesting couple of days.

I’ve been praying through the incident in the following days as my daughter is recovering from a skull fracture. I no longer have to wear a cast, but I can’t help but think about how helpless I was during that time. I was so dependent on other people — my husband, my mom, or a friend had to be over at all times to help me for several days. I have started to consider how much more fruit my life would bear if I depended on the Lord the way I depended on others during those few days. If I truly trusted God with each step forward that I took and really believed that apart from Christ I can do nothing — especially in regards to bearing fruit.

God tells us in His Word the most important commandment is to love Him and secondly to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22). As I strive to live by these commandments I so often fall short. When deciding between loving a neighbor or loving myself, I so often chose self. What if I depended on the Lord as if my arms and feet literally couldn’t work without His strength? What if I prayed through conversations with others? What if I trusted Him in areas of service? How much more fruit would my life bear for His glory? Praying I can grow more dependent on the Lord. Where I am weak, HE is strong.

Standing on the Word