8th - 14th September 2025
Many of us long for roots, for something steady and life giving that reminds us we belong. In my family that reminder comes in different forms: Sunday lunches, family holidays, special celebrations, especially birthdays and, of course, Christmas time.
However, I was reminded of another one of those connect points over the past few weeks whilst standing in my back garden each morning, enjoying some of the plums from our plum tree. Well, to be honest, it is actually Vivienne’s tree which friends bought for a special birthday a couple of years ago! It’s not just any plum tree, it’s a Victoria Plum tree and I have to say this year the plums have been fabulous.
Since I was a child I have strong memories of enjoying the plums from our plum tree in the home where I grew up. As a result I’ve planted a plum tree in every home we have had with a garden because in a strange way it makes me feel rooted. And, of course, every time I eat one of the plums it releases wonderful memories of my childhood and also the last couple of homes I’ve lived in and brought my own family up in.
I love it when I see the first blossoms appearing on the tree because that is the sign that fruit is on its way and it builds a sense of anticipation for when the harvest arrives.
This year, for some reason, has been very different, particularly up at my mum and dad’s house where their plum tree has been growing for over 30 years. It’s mature, massive and impressive, whilst our latest tree is much smaller and is only just starting to take root and bear fruit. The difference this year is that the plum tree produced such a bumper harvest that the fruit began falling to the ground faster than it could be gathered. The plums at my parents’ house are lying like a carpet beneath the tree. There has been an overflow of harvest, so much so that mum has been encouraging her family, visitors and carers to share in the abundance of the harvest, which they have willingly been doing.
Isn’t this exactly what Jesus desires for our lives? This week in our staff time it was interesting as Chris shared from John 15:5, where Jesus says: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”
Fruitfulness is not optional – it is the natural result of being rooted in Christ. I love this thought! Just like the plum tree, the fruit does not appear overnight. It requires seasons of waiting, of unseen growth, of trust that when the blossoms come the fruit will follow. When our roots go deep into God’s word, when we abide in him and allow his word to be transformative in our lives, then surely the fruit will come.
And not just a little fruit but rather, like this year’s harvest of plums, there will be an abundance. In John 10:10, Jesus declares: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Our life of faith in Jesus is not meant to be marked by scarcity, but rather by overflow: love that is deep, joy that cannot be contained, peace that passes our understanding and kindness that impacts and blesses the lives of others.
The plum tree dropping fruit onto the ground was to me a picture of God’s desire for us to be so filled with the Holy Spirit … that sense of being continually filled, that measure of being led into all truth, that reality that we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit so that our lives can overflow into the lives of those around us impacting all our relationships.
Abundance doesn’t come through striving; it comes through abiding. Just as the tree doesn’t strain to produce plums, it goes through its natural cycle of dormancy in the winter, budding in early spring followed by the spring blossom, pollination, fertilization and then fruit that appears and develops in time for harvest in late summer.
And it’s the life of Christ within us that brings forth the harvest, the fruit. I wonder how we are doing in bearing fruit. There are so many ways that fruit is described in God’s word.
There is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the qualities that are hopefully in abundance in our lives!
We are also to bear fruit through our good works, our actions, decisions and service, reflecting God’s love for this world through how we live and act.
And then there is the fruit of people who come to faith through our example, our words, sharing our faith, living in a way that causes people to ask questions about how we have chosen to live.
So let’s pray that we live an abundant fruitful life as we enter a new week together.
Written by David Mairs
MONDAY
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to this world and dying for me so that I might have abundant life. A life that is filled with purpose and hope. Help me not to settle for a life that is distracted by worries or weighed down by the weight of guilt. Today, I choose to step into the fullness of the life you want me to live. Help me to experience joy that doesn’t depend on my circumstances. Give me peace that steadies me and is beyond my understanding. Help me to love others deeply in the way that you have demonstrated your love for me. I rest in you today, knowing that life abundant begins and ends with your presence. Help me to acknowledge you in everything I do today. Amen.
TUESDAY
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38
Heavenly Father, what a challenge for me to consider today. I thank you that your Son, Jesus, is the source of living water. It is not stagnant water but refreshing, life giving water that represents spiritual abundance in my life because I am your child and have the Holy Spirit living within me. I pray that the fruit of the Spirit would flow from within me and that my life would be a channel for your love, joy, peace and blessing to flow into others. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
“If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” John 15:5
Lord Jesus, you are the true vine, and I am only a branch. Apart from you, I can do nothing of lasting value. Forgive me for the times I try to produce fruit in my own strength, striving instead of abiding, trying to prove I am worthy instead of accepting my worth is found in you and not in what I do. Today I choose to rest in you, to remain connected through prayer, through reading your word and by saying yes to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in my life. I pray that my life might be fruitful, overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Prune away anything that hinders growth. Help me to remember that fruitfulness is not about effort, but about connection to you. Root me deeply in your love, I pray. Amen.
THURSDAY
“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8
Heavenly Father, thank you for being the giver of every good gift. Today I ask you to make me a channel of that abundance. Provide what I need so that I may abound in every good work that has been prepared in advance for me to do. Help me to notice opportunities to bless others, a kind word, a helping hand, a prayer spoken in faith, a message of encouragement and hope. Thank you that in all things, at all times, you have promised to bless me abundantly. May my life today demonstrate that my sufficiency is not in myself but in you alone. Amen.
FRIDAY
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20
Heavenly Father, this passage has been in my mind over the past year at church. I love the thought that you are the God of “immeasurably more.” Too often my prayers are small because my faith is small. But you invite me to trust in your power that is at work within me. Today I want to pray big prayers and believe for more than I can see. Thank you that your power is not limited by my weakness, and your purposes are not hindered by my fears. Stretch my imagination to see what you are doing. Teach me to pray with expectation and hope. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
SATURDAY
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25
Heavenly Father, I love this proverb and what it reminds me of, that your way is one of generosity and abundance. That you refresh those who refresh others. Help me to refresh others today. Enable me to hold things lightly and to be generous, not only with material things but also with my time, my attention, my words and my love. Show me someone who needs encouragement and help me to give it joyfully. Remind me that generosity is never wasted. When I feel empty or worn out, I ask for your refreshing Spirit to strengthen me. May my life today be like a cool stream to the weary, reminding them of your kindness, love and care. Amen.
SUNDAY
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22–23
Holy Spirit, your fruit is the evidence of your life in me, and I desire to grow in every one of these qualities. Teach me to love deeply without condition, to find joy in every season, to experience peace even in uncertainty. Will you grow my patience to be able to wait for your timing, will you add kindness into my words and goodness in my actions. Deepen my faithfulness so that I stand firm and nurture my gentleness so that I walk humbly. And the last one, which in some ways I feel is the biggest challenge, will you strengthen my self-control so that I live wisely. I recognise these are gifts that are given as I remain in you, so I pray that you keep me close to you today, in Jesus’ name. Amen.