Show Me Lord, Please

“Show Me Lord, Please”

By Zach Wood

Psalm 25:4-5 NLT

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you.

I remember when I was growing up and would ask questions to my mom, dad, brother, grandparents and others how to do things.  I would try on my own several times, but then realize that I needed direction.  After a few times of failure, I knew that I needed someone to show me how a task was done who had actual experience doing it. 

It makes sense, doesn’t it?  If you don’t know how to do something, you find someone with the experience who knows how to go about doing the task you are trying to complete.  You wouldn’t ask someone who doesn’t know.  You seek out someone with wisdom and knowledge to do the task you desire.  We know we need to seek out someone who understands the task at hand and will know how to guide you through it. 

When we seek out the person, we often approach them and say, “Can you show me how to do this, please?”  This is usually after we give up on trying on our own and bring in someone who knows what to do.  After we have suffered so many failures trying to figure it out, we consult someone and trust the person to help us. 

The very same goes in our relationship with God.  So often, we desperately try to do things on our own without His help.  We try so hard to do life on our own and with our own understanding.  I couldn’t even tell you the number of times I have tried things on my own through my life and have failed.  I failed because I didn’t ask for help.  I should have asked.  I am reminded so often now that God wants me to seek Him out and simply ask, “Show me Lord, please”. 

I think God truly desires us to come to a point where we just throw our hands up, surrender and just ask Him to take over.  He is waiting for us to stop relying on our strength and, instead, to rely on Him alone. 

We need to let go of our pride and realize our desperate need for Him and come to Him.  He won’t ever treat us like we’re dumb or stupid for not figuring it out.  He won’t give us a hard time.  He will love us, open His arms to us and welcome our desire to have Him show us the way. 

We simply need to say, “Show me Lord, please”. 

I'll Be The Branch, You Be The Vine

“I’ll Be The Branch, You Be the Vine”

By Zach Wood

John 15:5-8 NIV

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

This chapter of John has been one of my favorite passages of Scripture for many years.  I have always appreciated and cherished the example Jesus gives of how we are the branches and He is the vine of life.  The imagery of this Scripture is amazing and every time I think of the words, I am truly reminded how vital it is to remain attached to Him.

Back in 1997, White Heart released their album “Redemption” with the song “The Vine”.  Here are some of the lyrics:

“I'll be the branch, you be the vine, 'cause I've been withering away for some time,
Now I feel your healing flowing to my mind, I'll be the branch and you be the vine.
I feel so free when you are my Lord and I am just me.”

I honestly don’t know why I try so hard so often each day to live life all on my own.  I am reminded so often that it never works out right when I try to live life on my terms and not God’s terms.  I need to hang on to the vine and I will live strong.  Apart from holding on, I will not survive. 

All God wants each of us to be is just “me”.  That’s it!  He just wants us to be who we are.  He will take care of leading us and directing us.  Our job is to hold on and trust in Him for the ride.  We are the branch, He is the vine.  We are not to be in the control tower or the driver’s seat.  However, so many days this is exactly how our lives look. 

I want to encourage all of us today and every day from here on out, to let God be God and for us to just be who we are.  We will feel so free when He is our Lord and we are just who we need to be.  Only God provides the nourishment we need and we need to stay connected. 

We are the branches, He is the vine.  We need to stay connected or else we will just wither away.  We need His healing.  Are we abiding in Him?