What Am I Producing?

Dear Friend,

John 15: 1-18 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. In the last 2 years, I’ve read it many times. The word is alive and active. Each time I read it, a new revelation comes. Today as I read, the word “produce” caught my attention. In the New Living Translation of the passage, the word “produce” appears 6 times. One of the definitions of “to produce” is to create or form something; to cause a particular result or situation to to happen or come into existence.

I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the Gardner. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit…...John 15:1-2

Can I be honest? I don’t always do a good job at staying connected to the Father. Sometimes, I would rather hit the snooze button on my alarm clock than get up early to spend quiet time with God. I don’t always think about what I am thinking about until I realize a cycle of negative thoughts have led to negative behaviors. When I don’t choose to remain in God, I am not fruitful. I am not producing right thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors. I am not operating in my kingdom assignment.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things. Galatians 5:22-23

If we aren’t producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, self introspection is necessary. Ask yourself the following questions: What am I producing in my life? What are my relationships producing? What is my parenting producing?What is my behavior producing? What is my mouth producing? What is the music I listen to producing in my life?

What are the television shows I’m watching produce in my mind? What are my thoughts producing?

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:4

Let’s make a daily decision to remain in Christ. When we remain in Christ, we produce fruit that will remain.

Remaining and Producing in Him,

Tracye M.