Father God,

Your Word reminds us that apart from you, we can do nothing.

You are the source of all that we need.

Father, forgive our misplaced attempts to run at life without stopping, when we fill our days with good works and leave no space to be with you.

Help us all to slow down to your pace, to remain rooted in you, to become aware of your constant presence.

Help us to develop rhythms that centre our lives on Jesus, deeply connect us to people, bring joy and most of all bring glory to you.

Leading your Church is demanding. Demanding on time and on energy.

We pray that our leaders will follow the example of Jesus. That they will make time to stop. To be with you. To be refreshed and replenished in your presence. To receive vision and guidance, courage and strength. To allow the transforming work of your Holy Spirit to take place.

May they be led more by Jesus,

To live and lead more like Jesus

So that others will be led to Jesus.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 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.

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! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

John 15:1-17 NIV

Thinking about your own life, how are you remaining in Christ?

Thinking about the leaders in your life – can you do anything practical to help free up time and space for them to be with Jesus?