February 20, 2026
Daily Devotional:
“The Source of the Surge”
John 15:5
"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."
In our "hustle culture," we are often told that the key to success is more effort, more discipline, and more grit. But Jesus offers a different paradigm; Connection over Effort! John 15:5 is the input of Christian life. It is the "engine room" of the faith. In this verse, Jesus uses a vivid agricultural metaphor to explain exactly how ourrelationship with Him is supposed to work.
Imagine a branch lying on the ground, detached from a grapevine. It doesn't matter how much that branch tries to grow a grape but it is physically impossible. Thelife-giving sap; the nutrients, the water, the energy, it comes from the vine, not the branch. To provide the life, the power, and the nutrients is the vine's job. To stay attached and abide is the branch's job.
When Jesus says, "Apart from me you can do nothing," He isn't being dramatic. He means that while we can stay busy, in doing our tasks and chores as we go to work on our own, we cannot produce anything of eternal value that speaks peace, joy, patience, or love without His spirit flowing through us.
Remaining or abiding isn't a mystical state but a practical awareness. It's like your phone staying connected to Wi-Fi. If you move too far away, the signal drops, and the apps stop working due to disconnectivity issues.
To remain in Him today might look like checking in, so take a 30-second "breath prayer" during a stressful moment. Listen to that still small voice whilst reading a verse in the morning and letting it sit in the back of your mind like a slow-release vitamin. Finally surrender and admit, "Lord, I can't handle this difficulty on my own. I need Your patience to flow through me."
