Upgrade the Connection, Upgrade the Output
It is whats on the inside that counts! What is on the inside of you is what will be shown on the outside!
John 15:5 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.”
What a wonderful story every magnificent fruit tree tells. The strength of the tree is seen with time, under pressure and has been layered over the years. This beautiful tree is recognised on the skyline as the sunsets behind it. Many people over the years have enjoyed its juicy additions. Storms have come and gone and the tree remains, stronger than ever, ready to serve.
As you observe this tree in your mind, and study its details you notice a smaller tree alongside it. It is withered, not as magnificent. There is little to no fruit on its branches. The leaves are hanging off it, barely. Something is wrong with this tree. No one visits it, no one helps themselves to its fruit.
To the casual observer the difference between each tree is noticed but the reason escapes them. With some thought we can surmise what is wrong. We don’t blame the fruit, we don’t blame the weather, we don’t blame the trunk or the branch. We do we know to be true?
Something must be wrong with the root system.
Everything on the outside of a person is a reflection of what is going on in the inside. Every human being is made up of a core system. You and I only see the physical, the outside world when observing an individual. People can fake their life but they don’t hold up under pressure. People can try to fix their problems by changing their fruit. They can try and get someone else’s fruit and attach it to their branch with duct tape but it isn’t theirs. The outside life of every person on earth is a reflection of their inside life.
We need to change from the inside out. Without connection to the Vine you cannot do it.
Jesus used the example that we are the branches, connect to Him. He is the vine and He is the one who provides us with the source of life. His life in us gives the power to change. When we abide in Him the root system is correct and we can process change.
The results you want will not happen because of prayer alone. Prayer needs to be connected to produce fruit. The results will not happen because you go to church once in a blue moon. You need to be connected with fellowship. The results will not happen because your spouse wants it to. You both need to be joined to see the benefits.
The results you want will only happen when you change. Change only comes from abiding in the Vine and making steps to process that change. He will lead you but you need to follow! In order to change you must radically shift what is on the inside of you. Jesus is your source. Your mind, your will and your emotions are your root system that draw from the source. If your root system is infected the results you want will always become polluted.
You can never change your outside world without changing your inside world first.
In order to fully embrace change there are several steps to take. Before I give you the exact steps for change you must understand what I am asking you to do. God’s plan for your life is awesome. It is fully supplied, fully mapped out but in order for you and I to align ourselves with that plan we need to work with God and not against Him. We need to pull our life from the Vine but correct and strengthen our ability to connect and draw out the life we desire.
Your next step is to realise you to need to embrace change. You need to meet it as you open your eyes in the morning. You need to step out of bed ready to be tested, confronted and moved. As you do you will begin to see people as friction points, revealing those inner issues you never spotted before. You will go up and down like a yoyo as you navigate the emotions of change. You start to look inside to change the outside.
Your Action Steps.
- Decide Today: I will embrace change
- Abide Today: Stay connected to the source
- Meditate Today: Feed your root system with The Word
- Write Today: Spell out the change you need
- Grow Today: Let God do something in you as you lift the limitations of your life!
I would love to go deeper into these thoughts with you in person. My passion is to see your life fulfilled and expressed as God intended it to be. Why not join us at Faith Life Preston as we meet on a Sunday at 10am.
Full details: faithlifecentre.com/preston
