Relationships and a Vineyard
Every chapter in life is full of relationships. Some are lifelong, and others can be brief. We pray that most of these will be positive and make us stronger. However, some can be hurtful. In successful relationships, you must be willing to open yourself and accept the fruit that can be available if it's supported and cultivated. Let's look at marriage.
In a husband-and-wife relationship, the bonds will grow stronger with time invested in each other. Daily acts of love, coffee shared, conversations from the heart, compliments offered, acts of service that your spouse appreciates, and even a surprise home-cooked meal that yields conversation and spending uninterrupted time together builds a solid bond. In times like these, the husband-and-wife connection is at its strongest, and you've become very open to the heart and mind of your spouse. This is true in all relationships. The more time and energy you put into cultivating that relationship with a person, the more in sync you become with each other. This is no different than how we need to view our time with God. Carving out two hours on a Sunday for church, a quick prayer before dinner, or a quick needed request up to heaven is not a way to cultivate any relationship, let alone one with God; how can a relationship grow with intermittent conversation, one-sided dialog, and a laundry list of requests that seem always to be unanswered. It can't.
Jesus is about relationships and wants to produce fruit in your life. Still, we won't let him when we don't prioritize abiding in him and initiating a relationship with him. Jesus says in Matthew 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Nowhere is this more evident than if you have ever been to a vineyard producing grapes. The vine grows in a vineyard, and branches grow from the vine; support wires reinforce the branches to prevent the new shoots and fruit from falling into the dirt and to keep them elevated to gain sunlight. The branches also need to be pruned to cut off the sucker branches that creep up to siphon life from the producing solid branches.
Mama, think of yourself as a branch anchored to the vine. That vine of life is Jesus. Picture the Holy Spirit as the wire that holds you up and supports you, keeping you attached to the vine and the fruit God wants to bless you with if you abide in him. He wants to help your fruit and not have you fall into the dirt to decay. He also doesn't want your fruit production limited by a lack of sunlight by staying pushed down in the dirt. Picture the sucker shoots on your branch that try to drain your energy and prevent you from abiding in Jesus. Cut loose the sucker shoots and focus on Him and the fruit that he will manifest in your life if you let Him.
In your daily walk with Jesus, ask Him to secure your branches so you can grow in your relationship with Him. Ask Jesus to help you connect with Him and be aware when He shows up throughout your day. Take a step to invest time with Him. You will see firsthand how fruitfulness is overflowing when you abide in Jesus's presence.
Consider reading Tony Evans’ book to help you grow in your faith