12
April
Love Makes Room
"But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” John 15:7
I tried to read the Bible many times in my young life, but my efforts didn’t last long. I either didn’t understand it, lacked discipline or maybe, if I’m being honest, the true desire. It wasn’t until I was in my early 20’s the desire was aroused within and I began to dig in and for the first time in my life, the Word of God came alive in me and changed my life. Since then, I have always had a fondness for the fifteenth chapter of the book of John.
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.” (vs. 9)
I live in a region rich with agriculture and known for their wine. If you don’t know about wine, there is so much that goes into it. The soil, the environment, the weather, the nurturing of the vines as the grapes grow and cluster. The timing of the harvest. The sugar levels are tested and checked. Everything needs to be just right. Then, after harvest, the crushing, the fermenting, the resting. It will be a few years before the bottled product is ready for consumption. So when the farmer grows his crop, he knows it will be work now for reward later.
The same is true for us…
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” (v.5)
His love made room for you.
As a believer in Christ you have been grafted into his promise of redemption. Once grafted in he uses the difficult places, the pressures, the crushing, to produce the right sweetness to our soul. He creates the right conditions for the gold. He knows the end result if we simply yield and surrender to the process. He’s going to take good care of us and bring us through. He desires to create some new wine of you.
So hold on.
Don’t you go anywhere.
Sometimes you have to give up a little bit now, so you can have more later. I believe the later is something to be savored.
Abide.
Remain in the palm of God’s hands.
Rest.
Even through discomfort He will comfort.
Remain.
Don’t you dare go anywhere. Plant yourself and watch and see what He does.
Taste and see…it’s going to be good!
when you know something good is coming, the anticipation will give you supernatural increase to walk joyfully into each new day.
I believe in you!
~Nicole