I HAVE AN 18-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO'S ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY INDEPENDENT...
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF GETTING THINGS DONE.
WHETHER IT WAS TYING HER SHOES AT FIVE, "I CAN DO IT. I'M NOT A BABY,"
OR THOSE FIRST DRIVING LESSONS THAT MADE ME A NERVOUS WRECK,
SO DAD TOOK OVER, "DAD, I'VE GOT IT. I'M SIXTEEN."
PLUS SHE'S ATHLETIC, A 5'9", MUSCULAR VOLLEYBALL PLAYER,
SO SHE KIND OF LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GOT THINGS UNDER CONTROL.
BUT AT 17, SHE GOT THIS STOMACHACHE THAT WOULD NOT GO AWAY.
AT FIRST WE WERE WONDERING, "IS IT SOMETHING SHE ATE? CRAMPS?"
ON THE THIRD DAY, WE DECIDED WE'D BETTER GET HER TO THE DOCTOR.
THE DOCTOR EXAMINED HER AND RECOMMENDED AN ULTRASOUND.
THE FOLLOWING DAY, SHE AND I WENT FOR THE ULTRASOUND WHILE HER FATHER WAS AT WORK.
THE TECHNICIAN WAS LOOKING AT THE SCREEN, AND LOOKING,
AND FINALLY, HE SAID CALMLY, "SEE THIS? HER APPENDIX IS SWOLLEN AND INFECTED.
"SHE'S EVEN GOT STONES IN THERE. IT HAS TO BE REMOVED."
MY DAUGHTER AND I LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER, SHOCKED.
I ASKED, "WELL, WHAT DO WE DO? DO WE CALL HER DOCTOR TO GET IT SCHEDULED?"
"NO," HE SAID. "SHE NEEDS TO GO RIGHT NOW...
"TO THE PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY WING TO GET PREPPED FOR SURGERY."
AND MY 5'9", INDEPENDENT 17-YEAR-OLD LOOKS OVER AT ME AND SAYS: "I WANT MY DADDY."
IT REMINDED ME SO MUCH OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
IN THOSE MOMENTS WHEN LIFE MOVES BEYOND OUR CONTROL,
WHEN WE'RE UNSURE, MAYBE EVEN AFRAID, WE WANT THE COMFORT OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
WE LOOK TO HIM AND SAY, "I NEED YOU, LORD."
IDEALLY, WE WOULD LOOK TO GOD ALL THE TIME, NO MATTER WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR LIVES.
WE'D HAVE AN ONGOING RHYTHM OF SHARING WITH HIM.
IF THE DOCTOR SAID, "HEY, EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT. YOU'RE IN PERFECT HEALTH,"
WE'D LEAVE THE OFFICE, LIFTING UP OUR HEARTS, SAYING,
"THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THAT BLESSING."
BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS LOOK TO GOD OR SEEK HIM WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL.
ON THE CONTRARY, WHEN THINGS ARE GOOD, WE TEND TO DRIFT.
WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE WERE ABOUT TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND,
HE SAID, IN DEUTERONOMY 6:10-12:
IN OTHER WORDS, THE GOOD TIMES ARE ROLLING.
THEY'RE PROSPERING, ABUNDANTLY BLESSED.
THAT'S AN AWESOME THING, RIGHT? LOOK WHAT IT SAYS:
"WATCH YOURSELF, THAT YOU DO NOT FORGET THE LORD,
"WHO BROUGHT YOU FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF SLAVERY."
WE READ THAT AND THINK, "WHAT? FORGET THE LORD? AFTER ALL HE'D DONE FOR THEM?"
BUT SURE ENOUGH, THEY DID FORGET. AND OUR HEARTS ARE PRONE TOWARD THE SAME THING.
THE LORD KNOWS THIS. AND HE KNOWS THAT THE PLACE WHERE WE TRULY PROSPER...
IS NOT NECESSARILY WHERE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL.
THE PLACE WHERE WE TRULY PROSPER IS WHEN WE'RE CLINGING TO, OR ABIDING IN, HIM.
AND IN HIS LOVE FOR US, THERE ARE TIMES HE WILL USE CIRCUMSTANCES, EVEN HARDSHIP,
TO DRAW US CLOSER, SUCH THAT WE ARE ABIDING MORE DEEPLY IN HIM.
FIRST THESSALONIANS 5:17 CALLS US TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING,
AND I'M SO THANKFUL BECAUSE IT MEANS THE LORD WANTS US TO COME TO HIM,
TO SHARE WITH HIM AND DEPEND UPON HIM.
HE WANTS US TO BE IN CONSTANT FELLOWSHIP, NO MATTER WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR LIVES.
BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE FEELING LOW AND DISCOURAGED AND HEARTBROKEN,
HE WANTS US TO BE NEAR.
EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES. JESUS SAID IN JOHN 15:5:
"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."
SO JESUS IS THE VINE, WE ARE THE BRANCHES, AND THERE'S A THIRD ROLE.
JESUS SAID, "MY FATHER IS THE VINEDRESSER."
WHAT IS A VINEDRESSER? ONE JOB DESCRIPTION PUT IT THIS WAY:
"A VINEDRESSER IS INVOLVED IN THE DAILY PRUNING AND CULTIVATION OF GRAPEVINES.
"VINEDRESSERS WORK NEARLY YEAR-ROUND TO HELP ENSURE THE VINEYARD HAS A SUCCESSFUL CROP."
AND THEN IT SAID: "PRUNING IS ONE OF THE PREEMINENT TASKS OF THE VINEDRESSER."
THAT'S WHY JESUS WENT ON TO SAY, "EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARS FRUIT,
"HE (THE VINEDRESSER) PRUNES IT SO THAT IT MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT."
LET'S GET OUR MINDS AROUND THAT. THE VINEDRESSER, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,
HAS A VERY SPECIFIC AND ACTIVE ROLE.
HE IS WATCHING OVER THE BRANCHES: THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN CHRIST.
HIS GOAL IS TO PRODUCE A SUCCESSFUL CROP, ETERNAL FRUIT FOR HIS GLORY,
AND HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET THERE.
SO HE WILL TAKE A BRANCH THAT IS BEARING FRUIT, WHICH IS A GOOD THING,
HE WILL TAKE THAT BRANCH AND PRUNE IT, SO THAT IT WILL BEAR MORE FRUIT.
THAT WORD PRUNE IN THE GREEK MEANS "CLEANSE."
IT MEANS CLEANING THE SHOOTS OFF OF THE BRANCHES. THAT'S WHAT PRUNING DOES.
IT REMOVES DEAD, DISEASED, OR STUNTED SHOOTS TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW GROWTH.
THE VINEDRESSER, IN HIS WISDOM, ASSESSES WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
HE MIGHT PINCH OFF A SHOOT HERE, CLIP LARGER BRANCHES OVER THERE,
CUT BACK UNWANTED CLUSTERS, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE VINE.
THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. IT IMPROVES OVERALL HEALTH, IN OUR CASES, SPIRITUAL HEALTH.
BUT LET'S BE REAL. IN THE PROCESS, IT OFTEN HURTS.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SEES THE THINGS THAT LIMIT OUR FRUITFULNESS,
AND THEY MAY BE THINGS WE WANT TO HOLD ON TO.
HE REMOVES SIN IN OUR LIVES, MAYBE SINS WE'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO EXCUSING.
HE'LL CUT OUR INVOLVEMENT IN CERTAIN THINGS, MAYBE EVEN MINISTRY.
HE'LL REMOVE PEOPLE FROM OUR LIVES.
HE ALLOWS HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING INTO OUR LIVES.
IT MAY BE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, SICKNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT,
REJECTION, PERSECUTION, OR DIFFICULTIES IN RELATIONSHIPS.
AND IN THOSE TIMES, WE ARE HEARTBROKEN, DEVASTATED, ANGRY.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON OR WHY.
BUT EVERY HARDSHIP IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLING MORE FIERCELY TO GOD.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? FIRST, WHEN WE'RE HURTING, AND THERE'S MUCH WE DON'T KNOW,
WE CLING TO WHAT WE DO KNOW. WE CLING TO TRUTH. AND HERE'S WHAT IS ALWAYS TRUE:
WE KNOW THAT JUST AS OUR FATHER, THE VINEDRESSER,
SAVED US BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US,
HE PRUNES US WITH GREAT LOVE AND CARE, ALWAYS. HEBREWS 12:6:
"THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES."
WHATEVER HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES IS FASHIONED BY THE HANDS OF OUR LOVING FATHER.
SO CLINGING TO GOD DURING DIFFICULT TIMES, AND AT ANY TIME, MEANS CLINGING TO TRUTH.
AND IT ALSO MEANS BEING FERVENT IN PRAYER. IN MY OWN LIFE, IT'S BEEN TIMES OF GREAT HARDSHIP...
THAT HELPED ME TO CULTIVATE A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER,
OF TALKING TO GOD THROUGHOUT THE DAY ABOUT ANY AND EVERY THING THAT WAS ON MY HEART.
FEARS, HEARTACHE, DOUBT, FRUSTRATION, ALL OF IT BECAME A PRAYER AS I SENT IT UPWARD.
"LORD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS EVEN HAPPENING.
"I NEED YOU DESPERATELY, LORD, I'M STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW AND FEELING SO WEAK.
"I NEED YOU TO BE MY STRENGTH."
AND THEN IT BECOMES, "LORD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRENGTH. THANK YOU FOR CALMING MY SOUL.
"THANK YOU FOR PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING."
GOD IS OUR SOURCE OF LIFE, JOY, STRENGTH, AND PEACE.
WHEN WE CLING TO HIM, WE ARE CONNECTED TO ALL THAT HE IS AND ALL THAT HE PROVIDES.
WE ARE NEVER ALONE. WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING THROUGH,
KNOW THAT GOD IS TENDING TO YOU WITH CARE. HE WANTS YOU TO CLING IN THE MIDST.
IN THIS SESSION, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CULTIVATE A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER.
WHATEVER YOU ARE CONTENDING WITH, BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT TALKING TO GOD FROM THE HEART,
AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAY. SHARE MOMENTS OF JOY, CHALLENGES, AND REACTIONS.
LOOK TO HIM FOR HELP EVEN IN THE LITTLE THINGS, FOR GRACE-FILLED WORDS IN CONVERSATION.
INTERCEDE FOR PEOPLE ON YOUR HEART.
AND OF COURSE, ASK THE LORD TO HELP YOU TO CLING TO HIM.