It is God that gives our life purpose and direction. We must learn to live from our place of rest in Him! Kathy Spampinato

Do you ever wish that you could have a conversation with Jesus and have Him explain what is going on and what He wants from you? Well, you can! That is prayer. I admit it is sometimes easier to spout what we think or what we need to the Lord, and more difficult to hear what He is saying to us. However, we have His Word. It is the very voice of God in our lives. It gives us wisdom and direction. We can then sit, listening to how God confirms His word with a still, small voice that nudges us to follow. Here are the very words of Jesus encouraging us to come to Him.

Matthew 11: 28-30 TPT “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”

We can go to Jesus with our burdens and cares. This gives us hope and direction. He is the oasis where we can get a cool drink of water and refresh our soul. We can learn to walk with Him and unload the weight we carry. He promises to lead us in a gentle way, and provide rest. Why do we often think we can do it on our own, striving until we feel weak and depleted? He is the source and encourages us to simply join our life with His. One step in His direction, and the weight of worry is lifted.

John 15:1-4 “I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. The words I have spoken over you have already cleansed you. So you must remain in life-union with me. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.”

Our lives are not designed to be lived in isolation and struggle. We were designed to live in relationship and trust with God. He is the one who will prop us up and provide the pruning and reshaping that will lead us to fruitfulness. God is our hope and our salvation. It is He that gives our life purpose and direction. We must learn to live from our place of rest in Him!

John 15:5,8,10 “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you- but when you live separated from me you are powerless. When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father! If you keep my commands, you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by his love.”  

While Jesus lived on earth, He was fully human. He needed to live continually nourished and empowered by the love of the Father. We need to do likewise! We can live continually nourished by God. We will then become the mature disciples who glorify the Father. Let’s take a step today, to trust God and unburden ourselves in His presence. We will be refreshed and strengthened for the road ahead. We will begin to bear fruit!