We are in the year 2023 and I am amazed at how many ways and things that are available in order to have connection. Seriously, like there are fifty eleven million ways to connect. Why am I like this? Fifty eleven million, LOL. Ok, back to what I'm saying. With all of the connection options that exist, how is it that we live a life of disconnection with 0-20% power? Which brings me to ask, what are you connected to and what is connected to you? Connecting to the wrong source will rob you of who you were created to be.
Devotional Reading: John Chapter 15 AMP
In this blog post you will:
- Recognize how identity influences your connections
- See the value of connecting with Jesus
- Release all bad connections
John 15:4-5 KJV
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 ¶ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Think about it. Whatever you are connected to has the ability to influence you, and whatever is connected to you has the ability to be influenced by you. Your identity has a lot to do with what you choose to connect with and how you connect.
Here are some of the ways that we connect:
- In Person
- Phone
- Social Media
- Mail (there are some people who still use this lol)
You would literally have to live off grid or intentionally not deal with anyone in order to not have connection. I grew up in a time where everything wasn't as accessible as it is now. We really had to make an effort to connect with people or things. Easy access to make all kinds of connections can be beneficial or detrimental to your faith, personal growth, and relationship with God. When you haven't established who you are with clear boundaries, you may end up connecting to someone or something that is draining your energy, time and resources. This keeps us in cycles or patterns that reproduce nothing but anxiety, depression and sometimes can develop sickness. Mentally and emotionally unstable all because of what we have chosen to identify with and connect to. All of this is a distraction and will keep you from walking in the fullness of who you are. Take time to evaluate your connections and recognize what may actually be a distraction.
According to John 15, when you are connected to Jesus:
*You are a fruit bearer
*You are His representative
*You are His disciple
*You are a love carrier
*You are a joy carrier
*You are a friend
*You are chosen
*You are a witness
These are all the things that we can identify as when we are connected to Christ. Jesus is talking to His disciples and sharing with them who they are. He shares with them the importance of staying connected to Him and and all the things that they are if they remain connected to Him. This is the type of connection that empowers you and would help you in this journey called life.
In John 15, it also talks about a pruning that may happen when you remain connected to Him. He says that every branch in Him that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He (repeatedly) prunes, so that it will bear more fruit. Now this my friend may not feel like the best part of being connected to Jesus, but when I tell you the freedom that comes with a good pruning is life changing, it is. It's giving unbothered, peace of mind and a good night's rest! If you know, you KNOW! I'm reminded of the fruit trees in our back yard. One of them we discovered is a Japanese pear tree. One year we decided to cut off some of the branches because the pears were mainly producing from only a few branches. Now it looked absolutely hideous after cutting those branches and I was rethinking the decision that we made. If you see this tree today, not only has more branches grown back on the tree, but throughout time, the tree is fuller than it was before we cut it. There were so many pears growing after that, that we had bags of pears to give to our family and neighbors. Something happens when we release what we need to in order to RELEASE the fruit that has been planted in us to multiply. Not only do you multiply, but those connected to you multiply as you are all connected to the right source. Don't be afraid to cut off connections that do not agree with your identity in who God created you to be. Those connections are in the way of the harvest that should come from you and those connected to you. Sometimes those things we need to release (cut off) is:
- Perspectives / Mindsets
- Bitterness / Pettiness
- Stubbornness / Pride
- Anger/ Unforgiveness
Don't let these things keep you in a chokehold that will cause your heart to rotten on the inside which eventually can lead to death (a cut off branch that bears no fruit). RELEASE ALL OF THAT ASAP! How? By choosing to do so, followed by an action that will help you move on. You may need to walk, journal or even get a healthy perspective from counseling. However you choose to release, include prayer with it. God stays ready to help us get to a mature place in Him. When we abide in Him (His word and spirit) and He in us (His word and spirit) we bear much fruit (we become and produce all that He is and does). We walk in the nature of who Jesus is and the authority and power that He has, which is life and that more abundantly. Without that connection, we take on the nature and the spirit of this world, which brings trouble. Here is the good news, HE has overcome the world and He has given us Himself. A helper, comforter, advocate, intercessor, counselor, strengthener that lives on the inside of us. Why not get connected to Him and live a life connected with PURPOSE & POWER!
My prayer is that not only will we remain connected to Him, but that we take on the nature and character of a fruit bearer, His representative (walk in authority), disciple (follower of His word), carrier of love and joy, His friend, chosen to belong to Him (relationship), and a witness (share and testify the goodness of this relationship). It is far worth more than being connected to this world you see today. One way we can do this is to stay connected with Him through prayer.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for showing us what connection with you is like. Not only do you give us your word, you give us your spirit and people after your own heart to equip us with what we need in order to live a life that exhibits our connection with you, the body of Christ and fully living in our purpose with power. We were not created to live a defeated life disconnected from you. Help us to cut off what we need to in order to bear fruit, producing evidence of our faith. Thank you that as we do these things and remain in you, we can ask whatever we wish and it will be done according to John 15:7. Thank you for loving us and that your joy and delight may remain in us and that our joy be made full and complete and overflowing. For we will testify of your goodness and be Your witnesses, because you have been with us from the beginning.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Reflections:
- Pray and ask God to reveal things that you need to cut off and to help you with how to do it.
- Be open to where and who God may lead you to connect with.
- Find and pray scriptures that remind you to abide and connect to God.
- Connect with people who use, know, or teach the importance of you connecting to God. This will help increase your faith and identity of who you are and walk in the power you have.
- Journal your journey and Stay Connected!
Thank you for taking the time out to read my blog and I appreciate your support!
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Prayer is a way that I have learned to get through, conquer and overcome many things.
If you have a prayer request, complete your request here: Prayer Request
The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]; The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].
Numbers 6:24-26