A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse  January 14, 2018  

Ask Me For Anything  Scripture Reading – John 15:5 - 7 (NLT)

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”  

There is a tangible sense of excitement in the air here at SPA – For Life as we enter together into this brand New Year 2018 looking forward to everything that God has for us individually and as a congregation. Already beginning the year with a week of prayer, followed by our first “11 – 7” all night prayer meeting – today marks the first day of our 40 Days of Prayer!

The wonderful promise in today’s text that Jesus reminds us of is that we have been engrafted into all of the great and precious promises of God through His sacrificial life, death and resurrection. Now as we choose to remain in Him, we will not only have a little bit of the fruit of the Holy Spirit evident in our lives, but we will bear much: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – YES, we will bear MUCH FRUIT for the greater glory of God.

Of course we do not want to be as those branches that dry up and die, and then are wasted, and burned up. God has placed a much higher and holier calling upon our hearts and lives as we press into His fullness and remain complete in Him.

As we fix our hearts and lives on Jesus, He assures us that we can ask him for anything that we want and it will be granted, because we are asking in the fullness of His purpose and plan for our lives. Will it happen immediately? Perhaps sometimes, but most often no – because we are children of faith – which is the substance of something that we still are hoping for, and has the evidence of that which we have not yet seen.

So press on my sister and brother, because God is waiting and willing to show forth His glory through your gracious surrender!  

Prayer Father over these coming days in this New Year, I ask that You will guide and direct my heart and life into the fullness of Your plans and purposes. I desire to bear much fruit that Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior will be glorified in my life and others will come to know, grow and show forth Your grace, I commit to this and pray it in the powerful name of Jesus.  

Memory Verse:  Luke 11:1 NLT “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1b