It can produce fruit if it works hard enough

Christ stays with the person who stays connected to him

The disciples are told to stay connected to Christ

Trying harder alone is enough for lasting fruit

Build a steady habit of prayerful dependence and obedient trust

Measure your results every day so you can know whether you are succeeding

Ignore the relationship and wait for fruit to happen anyway

Rely mainly on natural ability and effort to produce growth

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I have tried to live apart from you and make my own way. I confess that I have sinned and that I need your mercy. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and trust you as my Lord. Stay with me, lead me, and make my life bear the fruit only you can give. Amen.

Come and Make Me New

Lord, revive your Church to stay joined to Christ instead of relying on gifts, plans, or strength alone. Draw us back into steady communion with you, and let true fruit grow where there has been emptiness. Make us a people who abide and overflow with your life, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Revive Your Church to Abide

Father, thank you that you do not leave us to struggle alone. Thank you that life and fruit come from your nearness, not from our own ability. Teach us to stay close to Christ today, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thank You for Staying Near

Pray by naming one place where you have been trying to produce spiritual fruit in your own strength, ask Jesus to keep you close, and ask for one small obedient step you can take today.

Pray for One Area of Self-Reliance

Pray for: one believer who feels dry or disconnected; a small group or church to remain united to Christ; and visible fruit of love, steadiness, and witness in ordinary life.

Fruit for Others

Lord, when I feel dry or self-sufficient, turn my heart back to you. Keep me joined to Christ in prayer, trust, and obedience, and let your life bear fruit in me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Keep Me Close

μείνατε{MEE-na-te###MEE-nah-teh###Abide} ἐν{en###ehn###in} ἐμοί,{e-MEE###eh-MEE###me} κἀγὼ{ka-GO###kah-GOH###and I} ἐν{en###ehn###in} ὑμῖν.{ee-MEEN###ee-MEEN###you} καθὼς{ka-THOS###kah-THOHS###Just as} τὸ{to###toh###the} κλῆμα{KLEE-ma###KLEE-mah###branch} οὐ{oo###oo###not} δύναται{DEE-na-te###DEE-nah-teh###can} καρπὸν{kar-PON###kahr-POHN###fruit} φέρειν{FE-reen###FEH-reen###bear} ἀφʼ{af###ahf###from} ἑαυτοῦ{he-af-TOO###heh-ahf-TOO###itself} ἐὰν{e-AN###eh-AHN###if} μὴ{MEE###MEE###not} ⸀μένῃ{ME-nee###MEH-nee###abides} ἐν{en###ehn###in} τῇ{tee###tee###the} ἀμπέλῳ,{am-PE-lo###ahm-PEH-loh###vine} οὕτως{HOO-tos###HOO-tohs###so} οὐδὲ{oo-THE###oo-THEH###neither} ὑμεῖς{ee-MEES###ee-MEES###you} ἐὰν{e-AN###eh-AHN###if} μὴ{MEE###MEE###not} ἐν{en###ehn###in} ἐμοὶ{e-MEE###eh-MEE###me} ⸀μένητε.{ME-nee-te###MEH-nee-teh###abide}

John 15:4 — LiteralTAB

More on this verse