Tag Archives: Jesus the Vine

Waiting on Jesus

(In the Moments) The Joy of Waiting

4 Comments

Stepping back can seem like quitting but think of it as waiting for another. I’m not usually good at it. When we’re taking a walk or shopping, my bride tells me she loves my butt, but would prefer not to be looking at it when we should be together. This slows me down and I take her hand. The point is being with her, not finishing the walk or checking shopping off our list.

Walking with my wife is about savoring our moments together. It’s also that way when I’m with God. Problems and duties give me various opportunities to walk with God and to wait on His timing. When I forge ahead on my own, I’m missing out on being with the Source of joy. I’m also detached from the Source of Life, who guides and empowers my life.

Why I Step Ahead

I’m realizing that I step ahead because I don’t really trust God is in control of certain situations. It’s a terrible idea to try fixing life on my own terms, but I still do it. God is at work in all situations to conform me into the image if Christ. [1] Though I may not like His methods, stepping ahead doesn’t save time. It prolongs the process.

I also step ahead because I’m compelled to accomplish. My sense of self-worth seems linked to my perceived success. This is exhausting, especially when I take on things God never intended me to do. The result is futility. Apart from God’s life working in me, what I do has no eternal worth. [2]

I’m a slow learner with this one. How quickly I convince myself that this or that is a good thing and forge ahead. I’ve worn myself out doing what seems good, instead of waiting on God’s best for me.

These actions are doubly harmful because when I don’t wait on God and the empowerment of His Holy Spirit, I operate in my power instead. So, not waiting on God causes me to wear myself out doing things which have no real value.

Nobody has time for that.

Waiting Starts with acknowledging Weakness

After Paul repeatedly spoke to the Lord about his weakness, the Lord responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” [3]

His response, “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So, I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (II Corinthians 12:9b-10 CSB)

What I’m realizing is that waiting often depends upon the value I place in my weaknesses. If I truly believe my weakness is good, which is often hard to admit, God’s power can be perfected in my weaknesses.

This is by far the best route to take.

My weaknesses remind me to wait for God’s direction and power.

In the Waiting

Waiting is the best. If I trust Him, God promises to guide me. God is at work. In His timing, He’ll show me when and how to join Him along the way. If I’ll wait, He’ll show me.

In the waiting, I learn to trust in His control, His love, His strength. Stepping back is making way for another. Stepping back is waiting for Him to initiate and allowing His power from the vine to produce true fruit in my life.

In the waiting, I’m with God, digging deeper into His love, basking in the joy of His presence, depending on His glorious power.

Being with God really is what it’s all about. I don’t want to miss out on the most important thing by stepping ahead without Him.

Challenge

Is there a situation in your life where you’re waiting for God? Most of us have several. Perhaps you’ve already inserted yourself to no avail. You may have even made matters worse.

It’s okay. God’s mercies are new every morning. He can use even our bad choices for His ultimate plan to make us more like Jesus.

Step back. Wait now.

Waiting is hard but take courage. He is with us in the waiting.

Prayer

 Lord, I’m sorry for moving ahead of You. I see now how utterly futile it is. Please keep me from rushing ahead. Please build my trust. You’re in complete control of every situation and You will show me my part. I open my heart to understanding Your great love for me. I look forward to the marvelous adventures which await in my communion with You as I wait.

Amen.

 [1] Romans 8:28-29

[2] John 15:5

[3] II Corinthians 12:9

Post image generated by AI

Other posts in our series In the Moments:

As Sea Gulls Fly

It is Finished

Behold the Moments

Tranquility

Stop Striving

Simplicity In Christ

What is Good

Yet Will I Rejoice

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing

Exploring Grace and Joy together

Stay Present My Friends

Quiddity. It Could Change Your Life

The Cake Maker’s Blunder

God at Work (No Trespassing)

Hidden with Christ in God

Finding Joy in Love and Relationships

Escaping the Rat Race

When I don’t Feel God’s Loving Kindness

Experiencing Completeness in Christ

Overcoming Pain Through Faith

Recalibrating Our Hearts

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

 

Robby Buck

Nonfiction books by the Author:

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn’t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God’s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It’s not just a good idea, it’s vital to our journey as human beings. Rhythms of Joy

Novels by the Author:

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?  Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains

Please Check out the  Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.

The Lord Our Keeper

Kept Day and Night – Even When we Feel Unprotected

2 Comments

 The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. (Psalm 121:5 NASB)

God Our Keeper

Through the Prophet Isaiah, at the end of chapter 26, God calls his people to enter their rooms and hide for a while until indignation runs its course. He speaks of a time when He will come out of from his place.

“In that day, a vineyard of wine, sing of it! I, the Lord, am its keeper, every moment I water it. Lest anyone damage it, I keep it night and day.” (Isaiah 27:2-3 NASB)

Commentators agree the vineyard is His church.

God My Keeper

On our deck is a cross with the word “Keeper” burned into the wood. The Hebrew word from the verse in Isaiah translated “Keeper” means to watch over, to guard, to be blockaded and hidden from danger, to be kept close.

The Lord is near.

In John 7, Jesus invites us to come to Him and satisfy our thirst. He speaks of Rivers of Living Water flowing from within us, satisfying our deepest longings. Every moment we’re guarded and watered.

When we Feel Unprotected

When evil comes our way, it’s easy for us to feel unprotected. But nothing surprises the Lord. He’s entrusted us with every circumstance to be seen as opportunities to press into His presence and depend upon His strength. According to Romans 8:28-29, God is working in every situation for His eternal purposes.

Paul writes that God’s purpose, for those He foreknew and predestined, is to be conformed into the image of His Son Jesus Christ.[1] By His Holy Spirit working[2], Christ is to be formed within us.[3]

There’s a greater story going on and a higher purpose than just smooth circumstances

Much can be accomplished in suffering. Hebrews tells us that even the Son of God learned obedience from the things He suffered.[4] In His sovereignty, God is able to use evil for His higher purposes.

As Joseph told his brothers when they were afraid of his vengeance after Jacob died, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”[5]

Paul tells us to orient our lives from above where we’ve been raised with Christ, not on earthly things.[6] We know how our story ends. Even when troubles and sufferings come our way, our journey home is secure and sure.

Prayer

Lord, You are my Keeper. You’re watering and refreshing me with the Joy of Your nearness.

You keep me close and guard me against anything contrary to Your greater plan for me.

You’ve called me to abide, to remain, to stay where You have placed me – in Christ Jesus.

Help me to trust You when time pressures threaten my peace and circumstances hide Your great love for me.

You and You alone are my Great Reward, my Pearl of Great Price, my Keeper, the Guarder of my soul.

May I dwell in the beauty of your sanctuary all the days of my life. Amen.  

[1] Romans 8:29

[2] Galatians 2:20

[3] Galatians 4:19

[4] Hebrews 5:8

[5] Genesis 50:19b-20

[6] Colossians 3:1-2

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

 Novels by the Author:

Beyond Time

Hope Remains

Christ our Source, Our Higher Purpose, Waiting on Jesus

Stepping Back (Republished In the Moments)

6 Comments

Stepping back can seem like quitting but think of it as waiting for another. I’m not usually good at it. When we’re taking a walk or shopping, my bride tells me she loves my butt, but would prefer not be looking at it when we should be together. This slows me down and I take her hand. The point is being with her, not finishing the walk or checking shopping off my list.

Like walking with my wife is about savoring our moments together, life’s highest purpose is about being with God. Problems and duties give us various opportunities to walk with Him in different manners, but they’re secondary to walking with the Lord. When I forge ahead on my own I’m missing out on being with the Source of Joy.  I’m also detached from the Source of Life who guides and empowers.

Why I Step Ahead

I’m realizing that I step ahead because I don’t trust God is in control of a particular situation. It’s a terrible idea to try fixing life on my own terms, but I do it. God is at work in all situations to conform me into the image if Christ.[1] Though I may not like His methods, stepping ahead doesn’t save time. It prolongs the process.

I also step ahead because I’m compelled to accomplish. Seems my self-worth is tied to how successful I feel. This is exhausting, especially when I take on things God never intended. The result is futility. Apart from God’s life working in me, what I do is worth nothing.[2]

In the Waiting

Waiting is best. If we trust Him, God promises to guide us. God’s at work. In His timing He’ll show us when and how to join Him along the way. If we’ll wait, He’ll show us. In the waiting we learn to trust in His control, in His love, in His strength. Stepping back is making way for Another. Stepping back is waiting for Him to initiate and allowing His power from the vine to produce true fruit in our lives.

In the waiting we’re with God, digging deeper into the His love, basking in the joy of His presence, depending on His glorious power.

Being with God really is what it’s all about. I don’t want to miss out on the most important thing by stepping ahead without Him.

 Lord, I’m sorry for moving ahead of You. I see now how utterly futile it is. Please keep me from rushing ahead. Please build my trust. You’re in complete control of every situation and You will show me my part. I open my heart to understand Your great love for me. I look forward to the great adventures which await in my communion with You. Amen

 [1] Romans 8:28-29

[2] John 15:5

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

 Novels by the Author:

Beyond Time

Hope Remains

Christ Indwells Us, The Nearness of God

The Pearl Within

Leave a comment

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46)

Oysters

When my mom was alive she cooked a special treat for me every Thanksgiving. I say “me” because she and I were the only ones who liked oyster casserole. From time to time others would taste a spoon full and with a “yuk,” confirm their dislike. This would leave me several helpings and leftovers of succulent seafood delight.

I love oysters, but oysters have more going for them than just being delicious.

When a grain of sand or other small particle slips in between its shells, an oyster will begin covering the uninvited visitor with nacre. Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is a strong and iridescent material which protects the oyster from the intruder. Overtime, this nacre covered grain of sand is transformed into a pearl.

Treasure Within

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have the most valuable treasure imaginable inside us, the Holy Spirit of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Holy Spirit lives in us.

He’s the deposit sealing and guaranteeing our future inheritance[1]

He’s the Helper and Comforter Jesus promised[2][3]

He’s our power to live like Jesus Christ [4]

He’s our source of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control[5]

God indwelling us is the most important thing about us, but do we live accordingly? We’re designed to live lives of dependence, not independence.

Paul wrote: For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead (II Corinthians 1:8-9);

Coming to the End of Me

For years as a Christian, I tried to emulate the Jesus I read about in my own strength.

I wore myself out with Christian activities and trying to behave like Jesus. It was utter failure. Besetting sins lingered, frustration and anger brewed. Busyness crowded people out. My life felt dutiful, not delightful. I experienced dark nights of the soul progressively coming to the end of me.

At every point of surrender God was waiting to teach me a deeper level of yielding to His life within. He’s teaching me to stop doing things “for Him” and allow His Spirit to empower me.

The Abiding Life is the Dying Life

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5 NASB).

I used to think verses about abiding were good ideas. But I know now abiding is essential to living the joyous Christian life God intended.

Abiding means remaining, staying and dwelling in the spot of drawing our vital life source from Jesus the Vine. It’s yielding to Christ’s live within us; allowing Him to love others through us. But this requires us coming to terms with our spiritual death.

 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20 NASB)

We died. God lives inside. He becomes our life.

Rivers of Living Water Within

Jesus didn’t leave us as orphans. He sent His Holy Spirit to comfort us, to guide us, to fuel our lives.

Right now Jesus is in us. Let’s pause and acknowledge His nearness, determining not to move on without Him.

When Jesus said, Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.[6]

The word ‘Come’ means come this way.  Come. Stay, Walk this way with me. It’s an invitation to a continual, lasting togetherness.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.[7]

As the adult ox bears the weight and does the work, the younger ox is guided along, resting and learning, Abiding is staying yoked and depending on the power of Jesus every moment of the day.

Prayer

Lord, I see it now. There’s really no other way to live my life than in complete dependence upon you. I died and my life is now hidden in you. I want to remain aware of your presence as much as possible throughout the day. Remind me often that you’re near. When I forget your nearness because of daily duties, bring me quickly back to the enjoyment of being with You. And when I take that all too familiar stance of depending again on me, bring my efforts to failure that I might abide again in the sweet flow of your Rivers of Living Water within. You are my Pearl of Great Value. I give up all I have and all I am to You. Please use me for Your glory. Amen.

Novels by the Author:

Beyond Time

Hope Remains

 

[1] Ephesians 1:13-14

[2] John 14:16-17

[3] Colossians 1:27

[4] Philippians 2:13

[5] Galatians 5:22-23

[6] Matthew 11:28

[7] Matthew 11:29-30