All of us want to live a fruitful life. However, many Christians are unable to, simply because they lack some things. I've been in this position, too, and I cannot say I have succeeded in having this life, but I want to encourage all of you who want to live a fruitful life: it's possible in Christ.
Here are some things that we all need to know to be able to live a fruitful life.
1. We need to stay and abide in the True Vine, Jesus
The Lord Jesus alone gives us the strength and capacity that we need to bear fruit that will give glory to the Father, and joy to our lives.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."(John 15:5-6)
2. We need to be willing to receive God's discipline
Some of us might think that bearing fruit is always a pleasant thing. While that is true, the process we need to go through so that we could start bearing fruit and continue to bear more fruit is not that pleasant. We all need to undergo pruning.
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." (John 15:1-2)
Pruning is the process of cutting some fruit-bearing branches so that they will be enabled to bear more fruit. When God prunes us, it's not because He's a kill-joy. Rather, He is taking away unnecessary and unhealthy things out of our lives so that we will bear more fruit.
3. We need to desire to bear fruit
Bearing fruit does not happen accidentally. Fruit-bearing trees bear fruit because they: a) are designed to bear fruit, and b) allot nourishment to branches where the fruits can grow. In the same way, we need to have the desire to bear fruit, and give effort to it. We need to desire it, ask God for it, and make provision for God to do His mighty work.
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7-8)
