Spending time with God is necessary

When Jesus spoke with people during his ministry, he related to them in their own language. Often, he talked with those who were familiar with growing grapes. "Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit." (John 15:5) Grape vines must be cultivated and pruned to produce the best crop, and naturally, the branches must live off the vine. Jesus is the master gardener where humans are concerned, so people have to remain attached to God to produce their best.

Left to themselves, grape vines spread everywhere -- around rocks, bushes and trees and up and down slopes. The fruit produced there is inferior. Rather than being large, juicy and sweet, the fruit is small and bitter.

When man strays from God, results are similar. A friend, Robert, recently shared that he was unable to find time to spend with God. As a result, things were going less than favorable for him.

"I am beginning to feel like life isn't worth living," he said. School, his job and his relationships were going badly. "Everything seems to be off-center and blah," he said. His thoughts were straying making it difficult to stay focused.

Sound familiar? But while you were rushed, overworked and stressed, you attended church anyway. You may have gone to a worship service, a retreat or simply sat and read Scripture and meditated. Nevertheless, when you returned home or to work, you found that life looked different. It seemed to contain promise again. The time you spent with God was more than returned to you. Your new perspective allowed you to feel more peaceful and function more efficiently. The job, classwork and social life improved without your expending any extra energy.

When such a scenario happens, remember that spending time with God helps you to approach your obligations and relationships with a better attitude, less effort and more brilliance.

Jean was depressed. The peace that she thought she would never lose disappeared. Through no fault of hers, Jean's life seemed to be falling apart. The people she cared most for seemed to be taken away from her reach. She concerned about their welfare, but being a recipient of their love was also a large part of her inner security.

Jean was a fixer, always trying to remedy everybody's problems. Consequently, she became overwhelmed. Although Jean did everything she could to help assure that things turned out well for those to whom she felt responsible, Jean felt powerless. As she attempted to put the pieces back together she realized she was unable to always solve the problems of those around her.

She learned she must depend on a larger power. Jean also had to reach within herself and fill her life with activities that suited her. Rather than continuing to always do things for others, Jean told her family members they must put their seemingly insurmountable burdens in God's hands. Jean also realized she needed to take her own advice. After expending all the energy and ingenuity she could spare, Jean retreated and let life, through God, take its course.

Conversing with and feeling God's presence gives the creator the opportunity to prune the useless, broken, and dead areas of your life. Whether you're a fixer, emotionally drained or need companionship, spending time with God provides new insights that allow you to gain a new perspective.

Produce the fruit God desires from you by abandoning the bad habits and feelings that are keeping you down. Then, look for the virtuous deeds, talents and gifts he wants you to share. See what the Lord has in store for you. Visit with him often so you can better relax and produce sweet, juicy, meaningful fruit rather than what's bitter, puny and useless.

Ellen Shuck holds degrees in psychology, religious education and spiritual direction and provides spiritual direction to people at her office.