
The Digital Fast: Determine
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways. —Psalm 119:37Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. —Hebrews 12:1-3
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. —1 Corinthians 9:24
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways. —Proverbs 4:25-26
Determine to
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. —John 15:1-4
The branch of the vine does not worry and toil and rush here to seek sunshine and there to find rain. No, it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time and in the right way is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus. —Hudson Taylor
- How can you continue to abide in the vine?
- How can your family remain in the vine together?
- How does God desire for you to use, and not use technology?
- What needs to be trimmed away for good in order to help with your growth?
Determine to
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. —John 15:5-8
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. —Galatians 5:22-25
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. —John 15:9-12
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. —John 13:34-35
- What fruit have you seen growing in your life during this time? Or in your family?
- What practices can help you continue to bear fruit in your life?
- What practices can help you bear new fruit for the kingdom?