Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Abide in Me, I Pray

Abide in me, I pray, 
for apart from you 
there is nothing I can do -  
nothing of eternal value,
that truly matters,
that I will care about, in the end.

So help me, Lord, to abide in you, 
when so many things try to pull me away.
Help me to turn to you, and return to you, 
throughout this and every day.
Help me to dig my roots deeply 
and stay planted by the stream.

But not for me, I pray - 
for the fruit you would bear in me,
throughout this day, 
throughout this world, 
as I share the love and peace 
that you first gave to me.

This I want, above all else,
to bear this fruit for you. 
But apart from you, I wither like
a branch cut off from its vine.
So abide in me, my vine-growing Lord,
bear your fruit in me this day.