Abide In Me

My devotions this morning were from John 15:

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.

If I don't want to wither and die, I need to abide in God. I need to spend time daily in His Word and in prayer. If I don't I am like a rose that has been cut. Even if it's kept in a vase full of water, it only stays fresh for a short time. Pretty soon it begins to fade and droop, and eventually it dies. I know there have been times in my life where I have been like that rose. I have been too busy or too lazy to spend time with God. So I am okay for a short time but then I begin to fade and droop. I am still a Christian, but I am trying to do it on my own without the life that only comes from being connected to the Source of life - God.
Thankfully, I can get reconnected. The rose in the vase will never be reconnected to the vine, but all I have to do is run to God and abide in Him.