Scripture to Read: John 15:7–8
Jesus brings the conversation back to prayer as He shares what can be accomplished by abiding in Him. Jesus said in John 15:7–8, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” To abide in Christ means living selflessly and seeking to honor and glorify our Heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ in all we do, think, and say. That means our prayers will be Christ-focused with Christlike desires so that our Heavenly Father is pleased, magnified, praised, and glorified through our requests. From Romans 8:26–27, we know we are weak in prayer, but we also know that God the Holy Spirit takes up all the slack where we are weak. Only by abiding in Christ do our prayers begin to fall in line with God’s perfect will so that His perfect works are done in us and through us. For even in our prayers, we’re never alone, for as the Holy Spirit prays with and for us, so does our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). Jesus also made it clear that God the Father is always glorified when we bear much fruit for Him. Bearing fruit for our Lord is another way of proving we belong to Him. Of course, we already know that loving Him means obeying Him, so as we obey, we will automatically bear fruit for Him—it’s just that simple.
Challenge & Application
• As Christians, how can we bear much fruit for our Lord and King and glorify our Father?
• How are you bearing fruit each day, and what does that fruit look like?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!