For the past few weeks, my husband, Joe, and I have been having problems with our internet connection. Every time we would lose our internet service, Joe would contact our neighbors to see if they were having the same trouble. When they would say that they weren't, Joe would be left scratching his head. He would contact our cable provider, but each time he did, he was told that everything was fine on their end. All this time, we were praying about it, and it finally dawned on my husband that our connection was bad. The problem was definitely on our end, and once we realized it, we were able to reestablish our connection, and receive the signal that our cable company was sending.

When I was thinking about this the other day, the Lord impressed upon me that a lot of believers aren't receiving all the good things He has in store for them because their "connection" is bad. There is no shortage of power, wisdom, provision, healing, peace, joy, or other blessings in Heaven. But there IS a shortage of believers who are willing to do what it takes to receive them. Jesus said: "If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7 AMP) This is an extraordinary promise from the King of Kings concerning answered prayer. But look at the condition of this promise: We must remain "vitally united to [Christ]" - intimately connected to Him - and His words must "live in [our] hearts." If you want to see your percentage of answered prayer increase exponentially, then spend plenty of time alone with the Lord and His Word, depositing His truths into your heart. When you do, you will pray prayers that are in line with God's will, and you will receive the answers you seek. (1 John 5:14-15)

In this same passage of Scripture, Jesus says: "I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." (John 15:5 AMP) One way we can assess our connection with the Lord is to study the quality of the "fruit" we are bearing for Him. Are our prayers bearing fruit for His Kingdom? Are we setting a Christlike example that is drawing others to Him? Are we growing in the Fruit of the Spirit - becoming more spiritually mature all the time? (Galatians 5:22-23) If we are living "cut off from vital union with [Christ]," then we can accomplish "nothing" of eternal value for God. Today, I am asking you to check your own spiritual connection with the Lord. He has created you to live in vital union with Him - to receive all the blessings He has in store for you, and to bear abundant fruit for His glory!

Prayer: Lord, show me how to assess my spiritual connection with You on a regular basis. Teach me to abide in You, and to remain vitally united to You, without interruption. Help me to spend plenty of time with You and Your Word on a regular basis, and to plant Your truths deep in my heart. Enable me to become more spiritually mature all the time. Thank You that as I keep my heavenly connection in excellent condition, my heavenly receiver will bring me all that You have in store for me!