Spiritual Growth

Are you hot-tempered or does it take a lot to get you angry? 

What kind of person would you rather be around—a hot-tempered person or a patient, loving person? 

What kind of Heavenly Father do you prefer? One quickly angered by your shortcomings or one who is slow to anger?

If you said you’d rather be in a relationship with a Heavenly Father who is slow to anger and great in love, there is wonderful news for you. Psalm 145:8 says, “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.” 

Think about the blessing of God being slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. 

Praise Him for all the ways you are thankful for who He is. 

Lord, thank You for being SLOW TO ANGER. Forgive me when I think, do, or say things that are not in keeping with You and Your will. Help me be ever mindful of Your glory and holiness and increasingly align my thoughts and actions to Yours.

The Prayers of My Heart prayer journal is a great place to record your thanks to God for all the ways He is revealed in the Bible. It is also a thoughtful and meaningful gift for someone who is going through a hard time. Share with them the benefit of focusing on who God is and because of who He is, the many ways He can help them.

Jesus is interested in you and if your days and life are meaningful. Why? He designed us to be productive. 

In John 15:1-2, Jesus explains that our lives can be fruitful if we live in union with Him. “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 bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

Why does God prune and take away dead, fruitless branches? 

Why does He watch to see if we bear fruit? 

A fruitful life brings God glory and us joy. 

I didn’t understand that until I planted a garden several years ago. Then I understood the joy of seeing a branch bear a flower and then fruit.

God is our vinedresser. He watches us every day and prunes from us that which is unproductive so we bear His glorious fruit. 

If we sometimes feel the pressure of the Father’s pruning shears on us, it’s proof that He loves us and is present in our life. Rather than resist His pruning, be glad that He cares about you. Yield to His touch. You’ll bear more fruit and experience more joy.

Lord, You are the VINEDRESSER. I praise You that You care about me. Thank You for the fruit of Your Spirit. Thank You that I can bear fruit that glorifies You. 

Learn more about abiding in Jesus and bearing good fruit by watching Debbie’s teaching on John 15 HERE. Don’t forget to like the video and subscribe for more teachings by Debbie!