Encouragement for Today

January 8, 2025 Many Small Dependences ALICE MATAGORA Lee en español

“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.” John 15:5 (NIV)

My phone was broken and out of warranty. No problem, I won’t mind a few days off the grid … or so I thought. What began as a minor inconvenience quickly illuminated just how dependent I was on my phone for everything.

First, there was the emotional and mental dependence that was exposed as I mindlessly reached for my phone several times that day. My mind had difficulty being bored. My spirit had difficulty simply being.

Then there were the functional difficulties of being phoneless. I couldn’t log in to work documents. I was completely cut off from non-iPhone users. My husband and I had to coordinate meeting locations and times. I had to wear a watch just to know what time it was.

How had I become so dependent on my phone to the point where I was nonfunctional without it?

I wish I could say I lived with this kind of dependence on God. To be honest, it sometimes takes a while for me to feel the effects of “God withdrawals” when I skip my Bible reading or go days without praying.

Using the analogy of a vine and branches in John 15, Jesus spoke with His disciples about a life of abiding in Him: “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” (John 15:5).

As we remain relationally connected and dependent on Jesus — the source of all life and goodness — we flourish and bear fruit that will last. I don’t know about you, but I’m certain the fruit of a life dependent on Christ far surpasses the fruit of our dependence on anything else apart from Him. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness … Yes, I want more of that! But how?

Maybe it’s not as daunting as it seems. It wasn’t one major decision that led to my unhealthy dependence on my phone but many smaller ones. Perhaps cultivating a life dependent on Christ is the result of many small dependences.

• Instead of filling my time with mindless scrolling, I can fill my mind with God’s Word and let it dwell in my heart richly (Colossians 3:16).
• Instead of turning to Google for the answers to my questions or crowdsourcing advice, I can seek out the wisdom of Christ (James 1:5-6).
• Instead of reflexively reaching for my phone when I’m bored, I can pray (Colossians 1:9).
• Instead of many brief touchpoints on social media, I can spend time fellowshipping in person with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25) or connecting with my non-Christian friends.

The new year offers a chance to reflect on the life we’re living and the life we want to live. May we ponder the many small opportunities we have every day to live in intentional dependence on Christ above all else.

God, help us to live in daily dependence on You, our source of life and every good thing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Jesus’ command to go and make disciples can feel complicated and overwhelming. Do you wonder where to start, what it looks like, and how to fit this “making disciples” thing into your busy schedule? You’re not alone. In How to Save the World, Alice Matagora invites you, wherever you are, to enter Jesus’ plan to save the world. She understands your anxieties (because she’s experienced them) and helps you to break down barriers, pointing you to the joy of engaged discipleship: knowing Christ, making Him known, and helping others do the same.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (NIV).

How do you observe the fruit of the Spirit in your life?

What is one thing you can do today to deepen your dependence on God? We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2025 by Alice Matagora. All rights reserved.