Day 2: Bearing Fruit

Scripture Focus: Psalm 92

"They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." -Psalm 92:14-15, NKJV

"Perseverance is the surest evidence of sincerity." -Matthew Henry

Do you ever think about how you want others to remember you after you're gone? Do you have a strong determination to finish well? Are you asking God to make you spiritually fruitful as long as you are alive?

Psalm 92 provides a contrast between those who are abiding in close fellowship with the Lord and those who have rejected God. Those who are seeking to be right with God are given hope and encouragement for the future. Although the wicked and unbelieving may have prosperity and an abundant life in a worldly sense, it is temporary, resembling the summer grass that springs up quickly but has only a brief life span. The picture of the righteous, by contrast, is that of palm and cedar trees (Psalm 92:12), symbolizing permanence, strength, noble beauty, and perpetual fruitfulness.

Notice where these trees have been planted-in the house of the Lord (Psalm 92:13). It is in His presence that we receive spiritual nourishment, the ability to bear fruit, strength, grace, and longevity.

Similarly, Jesus uses the beautiful imagery of the vine and branches to convey truths to us about abiding in Him. His promise of fruitfulness is granted as a result of intimate fellowship, obedience to His commandments, and the willingness to lay down our lives for others, following Christ's supreme example (John 15).

One thing we learn from all this is that fruitfulness is descriptive of two things: sanctification and multiplication. Hang on, those are BIG words, but they are important and rich with meaning.

Simply put, sanctification is the process of spiritual growth whereby, through the grace of God, the fruit of the Spirit become evident, mature, and prolific in the life of the believer. It is the beautiful process of change that takes place in one who is cooperating with the Holy Spirit, enabling him to die more and more to sin and to reflect more and more the nature and beauty of Christ (Romans 8:12-13).

Multiplication is the process of planting the seed of truth in others' lives, whether introducing them to Christ and/or leading them through the sanctification process by discipling them. It is investing in others' lives in order to see them transformed, abiding in and reflecting Christ, in order that the whole earth will see the glory of the Lord.

Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty;Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!"Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU." (Revelation 15:3-4, NASB)

Take Time to Reflect
Meditate on Psalm 92 and John 15. Do you desire to be fruitful? What can you do today to abide in Christ, obey His Word, surrender completely to His control, and invest in the lives of others? Ask Him to enable you to bear "much fruit" for His glory.

True Woman Wyoming Prayer Focus
If the women who attend the True Woman Wyoming conference merely fill their minds with truth, but do nothing to stand for biblical womanhood when they return home, they will miss a tremendous opportunity to bring glory to God and fulfill His plan for women in our day. Ask God to use this conference to develop women who will hear God and then bear much fruit, influencing our world for the cause of Christ.

Pray for other churches in other cities as they host similar True Woman Conferences.

Pray that women will be challenged to sign the True Woman Manifesto that will be presented at the conference. Pray that in the days ahead, many other women will be added to the thousands of women that have already signed this historic document. Pray that they will embrace this statement and consecrate themselves to be God's "true women." Now is the time!