John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Father we confess that our view of happiness in life has been determined by our horizontal view of happiness that is everchanging, in things, in circumstances, and in people. We have soon forgotten that Your Son promised unchangeable joy to us that He shares with You. The kind of joy that influences our happiness in life. The kind of joy that comes from abiding in you, the source of our joy. The joy that comes from keeping your commandments, the joy that comes from abiding in Your love, the joy that produces a depth of contentment in life, that comforts our souls even when we are unhappy with life.
We lack happiness because we lack joy, we have sought for horizontal happiness in life without first considering the immutable vertical joy given to us by and through Your Son. Cultivate within us the joy of living through Your Word, abiding in You, abiding in Your love. Create within us a joyful contentment, awaken us to an understanding of how happiness comes through the doorway of the fulness of joy in Your Son.
Quite our souls and strengthen our hearts while we abide in You, so that we may produce the fruit and fulness of joy through Your Son. It is His joy that will ultimately lead us to happiness in our lives, grant to us this fullness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, AMEN!