John 15:4

Jesus said, "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
-John 15:4 (NIV)

"ONE of the clocks in our office is battery powered. We were unaware that its battery was running down, and the clock was steadily falling behind the correct time. One evening, an employee was still working although it was 40 minutes after closing time. We realized then what was happening.
The Lord spoke to me through this experience. I saw that because a battery-powered clock runs on its self-contained energy source, it will eventually become exhausted. But a clock that is plugged into a wall outlet can run indefinitely, without strain or tension, because it draws not on its own finite energy but on an external source of greater power.
When I try to confront a challenge or an obstacle using my own power, I quickly become exhausted and discouraged. Like the battery-powered clock, I wear down. When we are plugged in to God, our eternal source, we have power that makes everything possible." (Vincent J. O'Brien)

I read this devotional today, and was greatly impacted. It goes right along with some conversation I had with Nate last night. "If you are not consistently in the word, you become empty." There will be nothing flowing out of you, except that of your own effort; which essentially is worthless because you cannot bear fruit unless you REMAIN in Him (Jn 15:4).

Have a word-filled day!