A Walk Between the Raindrops

Two posts in the same day, Reader-Friends!

Isn’t the title poetic? It’s the title to a beautiful piano composition that was playing on my Pandora station while I was reading some scripture this morning. I think it could mean so many things, but just the idea of “a walk between the raindrops” does something to my emotions. Anyway, I didn’t just use the title for this post because I think it’s pretty, I connect it to my time with the Lord and that’s what I wanted to share with you.

 

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Have you ever received a fresh truth from an old scripture? What I mean by “old” is one that you have seemingly read a thousand times, that is quoted by a thousand preachers, a well known and consequently looked over verse or passage. Well, I have been reading the gospel of John lately. I was in the Old Testament, but the Spirit has recently directed me elsewhere, I think as a result of my spiritual infirmity. He is bringing me back to the basics, to Jesus. Anyway, today I ran into the “vine and branches” passage:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers…

John  15: 1-6

Honestly, my time with the Lord has been lacking this summer. And I have “withered”. I have been depressed, I have lived in perpetual sin, and my relationship with God has suffered.The above passage is well-known to my mind, but oddly it still has not penetrated my heart. This truth has not become important enough to me for me to become disciplined to the point that I am truly “remaining” in Jesus daily. Honesty.

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I’m so thankful that my Lord pursues my heart even when I run away from him. I made a prayerful list of areas that I would like God to invade. I wrote out some requests that I would like him fulfill.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

John 15:16

So here’s a little bit of my list. Feel free to keep me accountable, Reader-Friends:

1. Discipline. (in every aspect of life, not just spiritual)

2. Time management. (I go to bed with too many things not crossed off of my to do list, probably because I lack focus these days)

3. A significantly better prayer life. (I’ve journaled, I’ve sat in quiet…not sure what is right for me yet. “Lord, teach me how to pray.”)

4. A strong-willed obedience. (I’m a wishy-washy child. I seem to always find the exception.)

5. Un-diverted attention during “our” time. (Social media needs to be out of sight, out of mind. No cell phone. No homework. I need a place, a time, a frame of mind.)

6. Humble spirituality. (I tend to be skeptical when it comes to religious teachers. I could learn to be safe and open minded. God can use anyone.)

 

Thanks for letting me share, Reader-Friends! Does anyone have some of the same problem areas? I would love to keep each other accountable, I would love to encourage each other as God prunes us. If you would rather email me instead of commenting below, do so at yourfriendamber@yahoo.com.